AWC Going Dutch Dec 2018

Message from the President
by Suzanne MacNeil
December General Meeting
It was great to see so many Members at the
Annual General Meeting in November,
one of the most important events of our
Club year. The meeting gave Members the
opportunity to learn about the Club’s financial
health, your Board’s short-term plans
for the Club, and the three-to-five-year plan
that we’re proposing for future Boards.
Without a set of goals, we would flounder.
If you weren’t at the meeting, your Board
presented several new initiatives that will
help grow the Club while staying true to our
mission of providing a warm and welcoming
space for women who are away from their
home country. Along with the social aspect
of the Club, we continue our commitment to
fulfilling philanthropic opportunities in our
host country.
Our AWC receives requests for financial
support from numerous organizations
throughout the year and our Members request
donations for various causes each year. Our
primary fundraiser is usually a gala or an
event similar to last year’s Beach BBQ for
Perspektief. With support from our Members,
and the community at large, we’ve raised
significant amounts for local and international
organizations. It is important as a Club that
we can guarantee the charitable donations we
make reflect our Club’s ideals. Consequently,
your Board is implementing guidelines with
respect to donations.
8 GOING DUTCH
Going forward, any request for a donation
of €1.000 or more, whether it’s for matching
funds or a donation, and
any organization being
considered for
financial support,
must be vetted
properly.
Your Board
has created
a Beneficiary
Request Form
that must be filled
out before we consider
any financial
request. The
form asks questions
such as an
organization’s
mission, its plan
for distribution
of any financial
gift from our
AWC, and how
the organization
will apprise the
AWC of how
effectively the
funds helped the organization’s mission.
In order to ensure that an organization
meets our criteria, we are adding a committee
to review each request for donations, regardless
of whether the request is from a Member
or an outside organization. The Philanthropic
Review Committee will be made up of three
to five Club volunteers. They will report directly
to the Club and Community Board
Member, who will inform the Board about
the committee’s decision and whether the
Board should vote on the committee’s recommendation.
The information about a potential
beneficiary will then be brought to the Club’s
Membership for discussion and a vote.
Board oversight of the Club’s funds
is key to our AWC remaining financially
healthy. The vetting of potential beneficiaries
means we are acting with transparency
and full accountability for our Members. The
Philanthropic Review Committee means our
Club’s Board and Members will make informed
decisions and choose organizations
that meet our values and whose missions
matter the most to our Members.
Looking ahead, Michelle Voorn and
Deana Kreitler volunteered to co-chair the
Club’s spring fundraiser and have already
met with several Members who’ve also
volunteered to serve on the committee.
Whether it will be a formal gala or >>39
Join us to celebrate the holiday season
with your fellow AWC Members. We will
gather to share traditions, sing carols,
enjoy wonderful food, and partake in a fun
gift exchange.
The AWC will provide drinks and a few finger
foods, but we ask that Members provide
additional snacks and sweets. Please sign up
on GroupSpaces to indicate what dish you
will bring for the potluck. If you wish to
participate in the gift exchange, please bring
one wrapped item costing no more than
€10. Participation in the gift exchange is, of
course, not mandatory.
Holiday cheer is required, and holiday
sweaters are encouraged!
Clubhouse Closed
Thursday, December 13
10:00 a.m.
AWC Clubhouse
Free
December 19 – January 7 for the Holidays
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DECEMBER 2018 9