FAWCO Update -- October/November 2005

FAWCO: Its Seventy-fifth Anniversary

March 2-6, 2006 (Thurs. - Mon.) “Tearing down Walls” Through education, knowledge, tolerance and understanding

The American Women’s Club of Berlin cordially invites you to come and celebrate FAWCO’s 75th Anniversary in the city where it all began in 1931.

Our conference hotel, the BERLIN HILTON, is one of Berlin’s premier five-star hotels. It is located in the heart of the eastern city center on Gendarmenmarkt, considered one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. The hotel features excellent conference facilities, wireless LAN, a wellness area, a swimming pool, a squash court, a bowling alley – and 9 restaurants! The famous shopping mile Friedrichstrasse is just around the corner. Public transportation right in front will let you explore Germany’s capital day and night - for Berlin never sleeps. Direct flights from the US and all major European cities, excellent train connections or the Autobahns will make access easy.
We can offer a wide range of cultural and social activities to complement the formal conference program.

We hope you understand that in order to keep costs at a minimum, we are distributing this invitation by email only. Of course, if you would like to have Berlin brochures and information, we will gladly provide them individually. This Conference information is also available on the FAWCO website. Please copy and share this conference brochure with as many members as you can.

The American Women’s Club of Berlin, in co-operation with our sister clubs in Region V, will do our best to make your stay in Berlin most enjoyable and exciting. We look forward to welcoming you in March 2006!

Angelika McLarren
2006 FAWCO Conference Chairperson

The AWCH members are also being offered a special one day conference package for Sunday, March 5. A EUR 35 fee would include the luncheon and the workshops on “Women in Transition”, “U.S. Taxes” and Education. You may also join the tour of the Reichstag and stay for the Gala Dinner in the evening for an additional charge.

FAWCO's Philanthrophy Foundation

Announces the ONLINE CHARITY AUCTION, October 3 – 21, 2005

Donations now being gratefully accepted at http://auction.fawcofoundation.org/donationfrm.htm. In the past, items of special appeal have been quilts, jewelry, gourmet delicacies, and offers of B&Bs or holiday homes. For more suggestions go to http://auction.fawcofoundation.org/view_items.htm. Let’s continue giving to the heart of matters!

FAWCO's Help with Hurricane Katrina

Dear FAWCO Friends,

The reports from New Orleans and surrounding areas are alarming and discomforting. The devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and surrounding areas has created a refugee crisis not normally associated with the United States. The physical damage caused by the storm is bad enough, but the sense of poor planning and lack of logistical coordination is giving this American tragedy an even greater poignancy. How can it be that even though New Orleans was top on the list of most vulnerable cities, the disaster response plan was so woefully inadequate, leaving individuals stranded on house tops for days, and victims languishing and dying in the squalor of the “Super” Dome? Since this tragedy struck I’ve heard from many FAWCO club members who wish to activate the Emergency Relief Fund,.Therefore on behalf of the FAWCO Board I would like to inform our clubs that they may make contributions earmarked for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Clubs and individuals wishing to make a US tax deductible donation through FAWCO can find instructions on sending money at: http://www.fawco.org/corner_members/notices/treasurer.html. Please remember to clearly mark checks with the notation “ERF”.

The ERF for the Asian tsunami raised $48,000 which is now being used to build a housing complex for the widows and orphans of Beruwala Village fishermen in Sri Lanka. We similarly hope to identify a local Louisiana/Mississippi project where our collective funds might make a targeted impact.

Emily van Eerten
FAWCO President 2005-2007

FAWCO Pools Together with World Swim for Malaria

Excerpts taken from Paula Daeppen’s Report

FAWCO invites all 18,000 members and families around the world to be part of the FAWCO tidal wave of swimmers joining in the World Swim for Malaria. The World Swim for Malaria is a million-person, global fundraising swim from which 100% of the money raised will buy mosquito nets -millions of them.

We would like to encourage you to join in this effort with your club:be creative. This can be big or small;Most of the swims will take place on December 3.

FAWCO’s participation with World Swim for Malaria is an energetic idea coming from FAWCO’s NetWorks initiative. The goal is to raise $75,000 for the purchase of nets by FAWCO’s 75th anniversary, March 2006. FAWCO reps will be receiving publicity brochures and a mosquito net for promoting the World Swim and NetWorks in mid September.

• Visit the FAWCO Malaria Website (http://www.fawco.org/ngo_un_issues/malaria_mandate.html)
• Watch the FAWCO thermometer climb with donations to NetWorks
• See how FAWCO Clubs are raising funds for malaria nets
• Learn more about the tragedy of malaria and the Millennium Development Goals

FAWCO’s Peace Through Knowledge

Deb Yonker-Hecht, Chair

Autumn brings some exciting events in the Peace Education community. Peace Through Knowledge Committee Chair Deb Yonker Hecht has compiled a list of websites that may give you ideas for your own club or family participation in these global events:

October 5: World Teacher’s Day
- http://www.ei-ie.org/worldteachersday/en/index.htm
- http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=27389&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=-279.html

FAWCO’s Foundation

Giving Development Grants and Educational Scholarshps

Development Grant Regulations

• Comprised of six grants, each Grant will have a name and deal with an issue important to FAWCO members.
• Each 2005 grant will be for $3000.
• FAWCO member clubs may submit one project proposal.
• Proposals must be submitted by December 1, 2004.
• A project that has been awarded a Development Grant may not be proposed again for three years, i.e., a 2004 winner will not be eligible for consideration until the year 2007.
• In early January, each club will receive a summary of the proposed projects and a ballot. Each club will be asked to vote for one proposal in each of our categories and in that way selects the Grant recipients. In the interest of objectivity, the name of the club proposing a project will not appear on the project summary or on the ballot. Again, a club may propose one project each year.

The 2005 Development Grants Scholarships are as follows:

The AWC Basel Healthy Living Development Grant: Projects that concern medical treatment and diagnostic services

The AW Surrey Feed the World Development Grant: Projects that provide water, food and shelter

The Effects of Violence Development Grant: Projects that help victims of violence, abuse (domestic and ethnic) or sexual exploitation

The Peace through Understanding Development Grant: Projects that foster cross-cultural experience and interaction

The Hope through Education Development Grant (sponsored by AWC in Sweden): Projects that foster literacy, and support academic studies

The Skills for Life Development Grant: Projects that teach practical skills and vocational training

We hope your club will consider proposing a project.The deadline for application is December 1, 2005.

Educational Scholarships

The FAWCO Foundation also grants $5,000 awards to students and members that are continuing their education or are acquiring new skills. The deadline for receiving all applications and essays is January 10, 2006. Please check the Foundation website at www.fawcofoundation.org for more information.