Message from the President by Suzanne MacNeil Installation of Officers by Suzanne MacNeil It seems like yesterday that the 2018-<strong>2019</strong> Board neophytes first started planning the upcoming year and guiding the Club to hopefully give Members what they want and need. Did we achieve everything? Of course not, but we certainly moved the needle in the right direction. Looking ahead, the official Club year may end on <strong>May</strong> 31, but your Board and committees have plans for summer events and activities to keep the momentum going. Please read the One-of-a-Kind section on page 22, and check our Facebook and new Instagram page (www.instagram.com/awcthehague) regularly for information. Looking back, here’s a condensed reminder of what took place this Club year. For starters, our Club gained 40 new Members since <strong>June</strong> of last year. Many of those new Members are already involved and taking advantage of our Club’s offerings and we’re happy to have them! Jan Essad and Sunita Menon oversee the Clubhouse and have more than fulfilled their promise to update our little place. Even after a major purge of items during the New Look Campaign (Phase I), they are determined to make a final push. There will be another Clubhouse cleanout on <strong>June</strong> 19 and 20, and details can be found on page 11. To list all that Jan and Sunita have undertaken would likely fill this page. Suffice it to say, this Dynamic Duo is well known by our property managers! 6 GOING DUTCH Our previous website platform, GroupSpaces, was unstable. Julie Otten, our IT Administrator and Webmaster, saw the end of GroupSpaces coming but we wanted to leave it behind of our own accord. Unfortunately, GroupSpaces failed us and Julie worked feverishly to build our new website on WordPress. Julie did the technical work while Marsha Hagney, our outgoing Vice President, worked with Julie to create our new calendar and all of its components. The behind-the-scenes work was mind-boggling, and while there are still a few kinks to be remedied, I’m grateful for everyone’s ongoing help. The Club’s philanthropic efforts continued this year under Naya Pessoa who is stepping down from chairing Club and Community Development (new baby!). April’s re-Building Lives Benefit at Madurodam raised money for Not For Sale, which helps women gain independence after having been trafficked. It was a smashing success! We’ve made a donation to the Textile Research Center (TRC) in Leiden for the purchase of two American quilts from the 1800s to complete a set that’s already housed in the TRC. The quilts will be exhibited as part of the 400-year remembrance of the Pilgrims in Leiden and our Club will be noted as a TRC benefactor. See page 27 for more details. We gave € 3,889 to F<strong>AWC</strong>O’s Target Project for 2017-<strong>2019</strong>: Hope Beyond Displacement. The money came thanks to the generosity of our Members who donated and bid on almost 100 purses, jewelry and accessories at our annual Handbag Auction. The money put our Club at the Diamond Level, the top F<strong>AWC</strong>O donor status. And, our philanthropy team led by Holly Savoie gave everyone who participated in the Sinterklaas toy and toiletry drive, the TLC dinner, and Easter basket assembly that good feeling when you do something for those who need a helping hand, not a handout. >>21 The <strong>May</strong> General Meeting and Installation of Officers will take place at the home of <strong>AWC</strong> Member Sabine Crowley, whose husband Shawn is the Deputy Chief of Mission of the American Embassy. Sabine has graciously opened her home for several events in the past, including prior Installations. The installation of the <strong>2019</strong>-2020 Board will take place after a morning reception and will be followed by lunch. Space is limited and only Members who register will be permitted entrance to the residence. Once you register, the address and security requirements will be sent to you. Thursday, <strong>May</strong> 9 10:30 a.m. – Noon Registration Deadline: <strong>May</strong> 6 Members Only Sign up at www.awcthehague.org MAY/JUNE <strong>2019</strong> 7