Inspiring Women Magazine May 2023

Elsie Bose Founder &Advertising Manager
FAUSA & AWG Paris
Elsie making a new friend at the
Abu Dhabi Falcon Clinic. (above)
AWC Brussels Board, breaking ground
for the clubhouse renovation,1996.
(above right)
AWC Toronto donated $60,000 to the
University of Toronto scholarship
program. (middle right)
Elsie was the keynote speaker at the
AWG Paris 100th Anniversary Gala held
last April. (bottom right)
Elsie with Speaker of the House of
Commons, Gilbert Parent, in Ottawa.
(below)
I was born in New York, the eldest of four girls.
My dad was a Navy pilot, so moving and living
in different places was normal to me. I studied
at Mary Washington College in Virginia, but
graduated from the University of Maryland
with a BA in criminology. My grandfather, who
was a judge in New York, got me an interview
with his local congressman for an internship on
the Hill. The interview went very well, and the
congressman referred me to the Interns’ Office
to sort out the details. I walked in behind a
man who was also being considered for an
internship. He was directed to an interview
room. When it was my turn, I was directed to a
typewriter. When I asked why, the receptionist
said, “We don’t expect men to type.” I said, “Well,
don’t expect me to either.” And I left. I had a job in the local DC department store while
in school and went full time. That led to a career as a buyer and executive with several
major retail chains.
I met and married my husband Bob in Washington. Opportunities and promotions for
both of us sent us to Pittsburgh, then Denver. From Denver, a major career move for
Bob included a chance to move to Brussels, Belgium. Unsure what I was going to do, I
joined the American Women’s Club of Brussels. I served on the board as Vice-President
and chair of the clubhouse renovation committee, and I am proud to say that the
renovation came in on time, and under budget. In 1997, we relocated to Toronto,
Canada. We lived downtown. It was so exciting! I became active in the American
Women’s Club of Toronto, becoming its president.
In the fall of 1999, Bob told me he had been offered a new job, and what would I think
about living in Paris? I went to the closet, got a suitcase, and turned to him and said,
“let’s go!” I joined AWG Paris and was President from 2002–2005. We had an enthusiastic
Board and vibrant membership. AWG began the Woman of the Year awards, the OOPS
Auction, and published a cookbook.
I attended my first FAWCO conference in Stockholm, Sweden. Later, I was asked to join
the Board of The FAWCO Foundation. I oversaw the Development Grants program and
went on to serve as The Foundation’s president from 2008–2010. In 2013, we moved
to Dubai, where we lived until 2017. The FAWCO President, Monica Jubayli, lived there
too, and she seemed to think I needed something to do, so she asked me to be the
Advertising and Sponsorship Manager for FAWCO, a role in which I continue to serve
from Texas.
The intent of the magazine is to create a fun and informative magazine with “mass”
appeal to individual club members by introducing them to other FAWCO members,
clubs, and countries. The Inspiring Women team loves the “what if?“ question. Answering
that question has helped us grow a loyal readership, add social media, organize
workshops, and host live events. I hope we will continue to accept that challenge with
our new team and have a blast doing it!
108 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 109