American Clubs’ News

AMERICAN EXPATRIATE CLUBS NEWS

AWBS International Women’s Club – Welcome To A New And Special Club Year!

We do hope you’ve had a safe and happy Summer!

The AWBS International Women’s Club is proud to be a social, intellectual and philanthropic club for women who have made a home in Berkshire and Surrey.

We welcome you to find out more about us and what we do as we open a new and special club year on 13th September at The Wentworth Club. Why special? Well, 2021 marks the Clubs 40th year anniversary!

We think it’s pretty great to keep a Club thriving over 40 years and we’re thankful to those enterprising women who started AWBS back in 1981, as they laid the path for the AWBS International Women’s Club of today. So we’re looking forward to having a birthday year and celebrating 40 years of fun and socialising, 40 years of helping and supporting our members and 40 years of raising money for local charities to give back to our community. Keep a look out for details of our Special Gala being held at the new Windsor Fairmont Hotel on the 27th November, where we will be celebrating in style, and our Anniversary Edition of the AWBS Members’ Guide featuring photos and an interview with one of our founding members, Jonatha Dornan.

It is the start of a new Club year which kicks off in earnest on the 13th September at the Wentworth Club. The first meetings are always a special occasion in themselves as we not only welcome new and returning members, but a new Board too, who are excited to make their mark and continue the good work, particularly with announcing the Charities we will be supporting through our philanthropic efforts. We already have a packed Calendar from London visits to Potluck Lunches (a huge favourite!) and tennis to meditation, we really do offer something for everyone, and with the Club run on Volunteers, there’s always an opportunity to get more involved or host an event.

Like many organisations we had to adapt very quickly to the restrictions of Covid-19 and we went digital in a big way to keep our members connected and supported. Zoom has now become a permanent friend in continuing to offer many Activities online, for example, our well attended English History series, relaxing meditation sessions and cookery classes.

General Meetings are monthly and are open to all members running from September to May. We have the pleasure of holding these at noteworthy venues such as Great Fosters Hotel and the Wentworth Club and have a wonderful programme of notable guest speakers. Coming up this Club Year, we have classical pianist Nicholas McCarthy, 90s party girl turned menopause campaigner Meg Matthews, Jessica Doyle of the Telegraph, Amelia Dalton and actress Anna Friel just to name a few.

Past guests have included Ruby Wax, Anton Du Beke, Lady Carnarvon, Martine McCutcheon, Judy Murray, Sharron Davies and HRH Princess Michael of Kent, Lucy Worsley, author and historian; Terry Waite and many more including the lovely Roshan Seth, British Indian actor, who didn’t want to say goodbye!

Our General Meetings are also an opportunity to welcome some established local vendors through our partnership network to showcase their businesses and also introduce new ones. Yes you get to shop too!

It may not have been the sunniest of English summers, but we have a lot to look forward to over the coming months, especially with some firm fixtures in the diary including a Christmas Luncheon on 7th December this year being held at the stunning Great Fosters Hotel, our muchloved Hats and Handbags on the 18th May 2022 at Coworth Park, and we’ll be at Ascot Races with a force since many of us couldn’t attend this year!

Joining the AWBS International Women’s Club connects you to a wonderful group of friendly, accomplished and diverse women offering support, friendship and opportunities. Our membership is growing with ages ranging between 25 to 74 and hailing from 45 different nationalities from the United States to Russia. We welcome women who are open, educated world travellers looking to meet like-minded women, share life experiences and expand their knowledge, as well as integrate into their local communities in a fun and friendly way. Contact our membership team membership@awbs.org.uk for any questions and for more on the Club and our up-andcoming events, visit www.awbs.org.uk.

KCWC

KCWC continues its singular tradition among international women’s organisations of its monthly Speaker Series General Meetings. Usually held the first Thursday of the month, at 10-12 at the Royal Geographical Society, we invite guests for free on October 7 to hear photographer Dazeley discuss London theatre, and on Wednesday 3 November, we will feature journalist Linda Dubeney discussing media challenges today.

We will ring in the festive season at the RAF Club, Piccadilly Tuesday 14 December for lunch with food historian Marc Meltonville.

For information on these events and the numerous activities and discounts KCWC membership offers, please email info@kcwc.org.uk. Our website is www.kcwc.org.uk

If you are a member of an American Expatriate Club and would like to share

your news, events and photographs with fellow Americans in the UK, please email ben@theamericanhour.com