Letter from FAWCO President to new members of FAWCO Member Clubs

 

Welcome to your Club and to FAWCO.  As a member of your club you are a part of the FAWCO worldwide network that has been serving overseas Americans and the international community since 1931.  FAWCO is the Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas, a non-partisan, not-for-profit corporation and a U.N. recognized non-governmental organization (NGO) since 1995.

 FAWCO's international network of member clubs offers each of us a great opportunity to expand our horizons beyond our host country, take part in important international discussions and have an impact on issues back home. FAWCO is a world player. Not only are we a global network of more than 70 Clubs in 39 countries with a voice strong enough to make a difference, but we are a significant source of information on issues such as the environment, health, ending violence against women and children, sharing cultures, the UN Millennium Development Goals and US citizens' concerns. Far from home, you will probably appreciate the work our US Committees and Liaison do to inform you about your rights (like transmission of US citizenship), your responsibilities (like US taxation!) and to help you vote from overseas. These are just a few examples of the benefits of membership.

Our Foundation (www.fawcofoundation.org) gives us the chance to change people's lives through charitable work, and your club is an important contributor to the success of the Foundation's work. FAWCO task forces and committees ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), our US Liaison ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and UN NGO Director ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) all work to give us a larger purpose and an opportunity for each of us to be involved. FAWCO Alumnae USA (FAUSA) (www.fausa.com) is an organization ready to offer our members support when we return full-time to the USA. Your club has a FAWCO Representative who communicates your club's needs to FAWCO and shares with you all FAWCO projects and information.

 

As a member, there are three great resources to which you are entitled. First, you have access to a global website: www.fawco.org. Register by clicking on 'register' under Login on the Homepage, follow the instructions and create your own password. Have a look at our Member Services, our work on Global Issues, US Issues and Philanthropy. The Philanthropy section will tell you about our Target Program where together we can truly make a difference in people's lives. It is a FAWCO-wide fundraising effort that will focus on Water. See also the Foundation Development Grants and the Education Awards administered for club members.

 

Secondly, once your registration is confirmed, then log in and 'Subscribe' to the e-newsletters and e-bulletins that interest you. As a minimum, I recommend my quarterly publication called Connections: Letter from Headquarters, the 2^nd Vice President's News in Brief, a monthly update on FAWCO club activities, as well as The FORUM (our bi-annual 12-page magazine) and The Foundation's News You Can Use. Thirdly, there are e-bulletins from our Task Forces as well as NGO and US updates. For those returning home, contact www.fausa.org to receive FAUSA Important News for Members.

 

I enjoy being a part of 'something bigger than ourselves' and this wonderful organization champions causes that are important to me - I hope to you as well. My long career as a volunteer in and out of FAWCO has brought me many exciting opportunities. The friendships made, the knowledge gained and the various accomplishments have not only been rewarding, but each position held has seemed to open another door with new challenges and more exciting possibilities. Become active in your new FAWCO Member Club, attend the FAWCO Regional Meetings and annual Conference where you will meet other women (and men) who share your international perspective.  I'm sure you will be inspired by working with so many enthusiastic volunteers from FAWCO and the countries in which you are living.

 

Warm wishes,

Kathleen Simon

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