Dear {Contact_First_Name},

Welcome back! Whether you took some time right here in Berlin, or traveled the world, I hope you all had the summer you needed. My family was able to spend time with friends and relatives in Seattle and Southern California, where we particularly enjoyed the beaches, delicious Mexican food, and lots of free cold drinking water. 

Speaking of free drinking water, Berlin has been installing drinking fountains throughout the city. My daughter, Claire, and I helped ourselves to one in Zehlendorf three times while shopping last weekend. Check out this map of fountains. If you have tips about life in Berlin, we'd love to hear about them on our private Facebook page -- or feel free to email president@awcberlin.org.  

As summer winds down, AWC's calendar is cranking up. There's so much good stuff happening in September that I'm convinced we'll all sleep through October. If you are hesitating to come to an event, because you don't yet know other members, please contact our Membership team. Ali and Karen will connect you with an AWC buddy and get you started. 

Would you like to see different activities or times offered? AWC's VP of Programs, Lissa, would love to hear your suggestions. If you're willing to take the lead on an activity, she'd extra love to hear your suggestions. Whether it's attending events, volunteering or both, the more you put into the club, the more you'll get out.

See you soon!

Love, Janel

Janel Schermerhorn
President, The American Women's Club of Berlin
president@awcberlin.org

We look forward to seeing you soon! Please note that there is a New Member Coffee event on September 12. All members are welcome.

Welcome Back Picnic!

You and your family are invited to a Welcome Back Picnic in the Tiergarten. Come reconnect with AWC friends in the beautiful green heart of the city. 

When: Sunday, Sept 8, 12-4pm 
Where: Tiergarten click here for map and more details

Bring: dessert to share as well as your own picnic and blanket

RSVP: rsvp@awcberlin.org

"Don't Miss" Evening Events

You asked, we listened! The board has worked hard in 2019 to ensure there are many evening general meetings and events. September already has 7 evening events and activities scheduled. Some particularly unique events include:

September 17th: General Meeting, "An Evening with Dulcie Smart"

September 18th: Reception at the Taipei Representation 

September 25th: Ascend Film Screening

September 28th: Newcomer Orientation

Ascend Afghanistan: Women Rising

Don't miss this very unique film about Afghan women striving to carve a path for female equality and leadership in their country. The event includes an opportunity to interact with journalist Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, as well as the Afghan women. Matinee and evening tickets available now. Invite everyone!

FAWCO Update

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, Maya Guice and Silvia Malo!

    

Most of AWC's event sign-ups and confirmations are handled by our cheerful and dedicated RSVP Team: Maya and Silvia. Over this past year, they have divided and conquered to monitor your requests, resolve conflicts, and ensure members had the information they needed to enjoy club activities. Just since January, they have answered 600 emails.  A huge thank you to this fantastic RSVP team! If you would like to thank them directly, just email rsvp@awcberlin.org.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU...YES YOU!

Recently, Maya has taken on new commitments and cannot continue with the RSVP team. We will miss her, but now you can step to help the club. Benefits: be the first to sign up for events, get to know lots of members via email, work with fabulous Silvia! Email president@awcberlin.org if interested.

Philanthropy Update

The Auction of Talents: the event that keeps on giving!

The Auction of Talents was held in April, 2019, and raised over 16,000€ for our local charity, JACK Berlin. AOT events began the week after the auction with a traditional German Kaffee Klatsch hosted by Petra Zimmer. They continued through spring and summer with generous hostesses and happy guests. Final events will be held this fall with Sylvia Malo hosting her Mexican dinner and Karen Alexrad holding an iPhoto workshop. Over the past six months, the auction has brought fellowship and fundraising together. Thank you again to My Linh Kunst for bringing the concept to our club via the IWC Munich. 

Due to the overwhelming success of this event, the board voted in favor of using the money raised to support JACK over a two-year period. JACK will remain our local charity through 2020. There will not be an Auction of Talents in 2020, but we will have several other exciting events.

JACK will receive AWC Berlin funds to support two initiatives in 2019; security and childcare. The security initiative will ensure a safer environment for program participants and teachers. It will provide a secure place to keep their personal belongings while in class, window coverings to create privacy while in the classrooms and security while in the building with and improved lock system. The child care initiative will provide children under the age of six, with mothers in JACK classes, an updated environment. The childcare center is in the basement. They will be renovating a space for napping, repairing the plumbing in the unreliable sink, adding heaters for the winter months, cleaning the carpet, repainting the rooms and adding storage that is out of the reach of the children for safety. The local Berlin Brownie troop also held a fundraising event and gave JACK a toy cabinet with bins for the childcare area. We will be hosting a volunteer day in the fall to assist with projects our members can complete in the childcare center.

Tour of Gustave Caillebotte Exhibition

Date/Time: Thursday, September 5th, 10:45am - 1:00pm
Location: Alte Nationalgalerie, Mitte 
Cost: 10€ entrance, plus tour (100€ divided by participants)  
RSVP:  rsvp@awcberlin.org

Kaffee Klatsch

Date/Time: Friday, September 6, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Location: Park Cafe 
Cost: cost of your order  
RSVP: no rsvp needed, just show up!

Kaffee Klatsch is our monthly "coffee chat". Stop by to connect with old friends or make new ones.  Details

Welcome Back Picnic

Date/Time: Sunday, September 8, 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Tiergarten 
Bring: your own picnic and blanket, and dessert to share  
RSVP:  rsvp@awcberlin.org

You and your family are invited to a Welcome Back Picnic in the Tiergarten. Come reconnect with AWC friends in the beautiful green heart of the city.    Details

Evening Book Club

Dates/Time: Tuesday, September 10, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Private home, Mitte
Bring: snack to share (drinks provided)
RSVP:  bookclub@awcberlin.org

This month’s selection is Less by Andrew Sean Greer. From Goodreads: "Who says you can't run away from your problems? ... A scintillating satire of the American abroad..." Details

Blogger's Meetup

Date/Time: Wednesday, September 11, 9:00am - 11:00am
Location: Private Home, Charlottenburg 
Cost: free  
RSVP:  bloggers@awcberlin.org 

An informal discussion for anybody managing a personal blog, interested in starting one, or wanting to improve something specific about theirs. Details

New Member Coffee

Date/Time: Thursday, September 12, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Location: Private Home, Nikolassee/Schlachtensee 
Cost: free  
RSVP:  membership@awcberlin.org 

Whether or not you have already had a chance to experience an event, outing, or meeting with our club, this is the perfect opportunity for you to meet other new members. Details

Women's Wellness Retreat

Date/Time: Friday, September 13th - Sunday, September 15th
Location: Rosenwaldhof 
Cost: 275€ - 295€  
RSVP: wellnessretreat@awcberlin.org  

Join ​Kristin Tovson​ and ​Molly Brown​ for a wellness weekend combining meditation, yoga, and creative writing. This retreat is your opportunity to relax and unplug from daily life, and to reconnect to yourself and your community. Details

Travel Bug Forum

Dates/Time: Friday September 13, 10:30am - 12:30pm
Location: Goldhahn & Sampson, Charlottenburg
Cost: the cost of your order
RSVP:  travelbug@awcberlin.org

The TRAVEL GROUP meets every second Friday of the month at 10:30am to share their passion for seeing the world. Globetrotters gather at the lovely Charlottenburg Goldhahn & Sampson. Details

Berlin Art Fair - Private Tour

Date/Time: Friday, September 13th, 11:20am - 1:30pm
Location: Flughaven Tempelhof 
Cost: 22€  
RSVP:  rsvp@awcberlin.org

Join this two-hour behind-the-scenes tour of modern and contemporary art, guided by Dorit Rubin Elkanati, an art consultant and founder of the blog She Who Loves Art. Space very limited! Details

General Meeting: An Evening with Dulcie Smart

Dates/Time: Tuesday, September 17, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: Cafehaus Mila, Charlottenburg
Cost: free (unless staying for optional dinner after)
RSVP:  rsvp@awcberlin.org

Please join us for an evening with the amazing actress, Dulcie Smart. Many of us saw Dulcie in the one woman play Blond Poison. Her short performance will be followed by Q&A. The evening will open with our club general meeting. All are welcome to stay for dinner after. Details

Taipei Representation Reception

Date/Time: Wednesday, September 18th, 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Location: Taipei Representative's Office/Mitte
Cost: Free 
RSVP:  rsvp@awcberlin.org

This will be a fun evening of learning about Taiwan, enjoying Amb. Prof. Dr. Jhy-Wey SHIEH's humor, and sampling Taiwanese finger foods.  Details

Film Screening: Ascend Afghanistan, Women Rising 

Date/Time: Wednesday, September 25th, 4:45pm and 7:15pm (2 events)
Location: Astor Film Lounge

Cost: varies 
Tickets:  purchase directly through Eventbrite (links below)

Don't miss this very unique film about Afghan women striving to carve a path for female equality and leadership in their country. The event includes an opportunity to interact with journalist Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, as well as the Afghan women. Matinee and evening tickets available now. Invite everyone you know! Details

Sunday Afternoon Dog Walk (dog not required!) 

Date/Time: Sunday, September 22nd, 1:15pm - 3:00pm 
Location: Grunewald Forest

Cost: Free 
Tickets:  dogwalk@awcberlin.org

Dogs can run free off leash! Let’s do a casual walk and talk together in true German tradition. Spouses, families, and of course pets are welcome! Details

Ronald McDonald House Cooking Event

Date/Time: Thursday, September 26th, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Ronald McDonald House

Cost: Free  
RSVP: rmdh@awcberlin.org

Every quarter, we cook dinner for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House Berlin. We cook for and serve for 30-50 people. We look forward to seeing you there for this fun and worthwhile community service event. Details

Date/Time: Saturday, September 28th, 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Church of the Holy Ghost (U2: Neu Westend)

Cost: Free to members, 30€ non-members (applied to membership, if joining) 
RSVP: orientation@awcberlin.org

Fairly new to Berlin? Or still trying to figure it out? This orientation is designed to help newcomers quickly orient and enjoy the rich and varied experiences of living in Berlin. The program has one main module, Managing Daily Life, and three others to choose from, Hitting the Ground Running, Berlin with Children, and Living Abroad as a US Citizen. Details

German Conversation - West

Dates/Time: Mondays 10:30am - 12:00pm
Location: Wiener Conditorei at Truman Plaza (Clayallee 175)
Cost: the cost of your order
RSVP:  german@awcberlin.org

Come join us for casual German conversation meetups!  We meet over coffee in a safe and judgement-free environment and always have a good time. Usually we are joined by AWC Berlin members who are native German speakers. RSVP to AWC Facebook page before heading over or send an email. Details

German Conversation - Ost

This activity is soon to be posted on the calendar. In the meantime, check the AWC private Facebook page for Sydney Ware's posts about currently scheduled meeting.

Come join us for casual German conversation meetups!  We meet over coffee in a safe and judgement-free environment and always have a good time. Usually we are joined by AWC Berlin members who are native German speakers. RSVP to AWC Facebook page for details.

Tennis - Beginner to Advanced

Dates/Time: Mondays 11:00am - 1:00pm and Thursdays 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Location: Blau-Gold Tennis Club, Stieglitz
Cost: 160€ 
RSVP:  tennis@awcberlin.org

We welcome advanced/intermediate players to join our core group of 4. If you are a beginner, we can accommodate you once we get 4 beginners signed up, so ask your friends! Beginners would have lessons (at extra cost) with a trainer and then play round-robins with each other. Details

Creative Writing Practice - Morning or Evening

Dates/Time: Tuesdays 10:00am - 12:30pm OR Wednesdays 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Location: contact instructor
Cost: 105€ for 7 weeks
RSVP: writing@awcberlin.org

View the AWC September Calendar

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

Forward this newsletter to your friends in Berlin!