The AWC: Uniting American Women in Lagos! ! ! ! ! ! NOVEMBER 2012

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Message "om the President

Happy Thanksgiving

The holidays are fast approaching! I hope you were able to find some holiday goodies at The AWC Bazaar at Pier Harbor on November 4. It was great fun! Thank you to Lisa and the other volunteers who volunteered their time to make it happen. If you didn’t already find your gifts to take back home to friends and family there are plenty of other bazaars going on this time of year, and it’s great to help out other women's groups in the area and see what they have to offer.  

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! It may not be as traditional as if we were back home in the States, but being

with family and loved ones is the message and you can always start some new traditions. The AWC will start winding down for the holidays soon, but we hope that you will join us for the activities that are on December’s calendar! Remember, there is no general meeting during the month of December. We look forward to seeing everyone back in action in the New Year and ready for Small World on February 23!

Gina Mu$er2012-2013 President  The AWC

MESSAGE FROM THE 2ND VICE PRESIDENT

Small World is the big expatriate fundraiser of the year that is supported by women’s groups from many countries. The AWC will be participating, so please plan to pitch in to do a small part to help. The date of the event has been changed to February 23 and the location this year will be on the grounds of the Federal Palace Hotel.

The 2013 Small World event promises to be another fun evening of international food, great entertainment and lots of naira raised to benefit many worthy charities.

We still need volunteers to help organize our food and decorations. E-mail me to learn how you can help!

Is your employer or your husband’s employer willing to make a donation to help support the efforts of The AWC, our charities or scholarship program? Please contact me to help put a packet of information in the right hands so we can spread the word..

Carolee Weber2012-2013 2nd Vice

President, FundraisingCaroleew@byu.net

The AWC: Uniting American Women in Lagos! ! ! ! ! ! NOVEMBER 2012

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From the Office of the 1st Vice President:

The CPR/First aid class took place at the GQ on October 24. It was a great success with 16 participants.  We thank Dr. Celine Faddoul as well as Felicia and Seun of the U.S. consulate for their expertise.

The first community service meeting was held on November 6. All the charities supported by The AWC were discussed in detail. Next month, on December 4, instead of a meeting we are planning a field trip to Child Life Line. Let us know if you are interested in coming along!

We are going to collect in-kind donations for different charities at our next hospitality coffee and general meeting. Keep an eye out for the items needed, as the lists will be sent to you by e-mail. Special raffle for those who bring donations at our next general meeting.

Children attending Ife Oluwa School had a very special day at Paloo’s Place on October 20. They were invited to a free fun day of activities and all had a blast. Thank you, The AWC member Aishetu Dozie, for organizing this fabulous event! 

The deadline for submitting completed The AWC Scholarship application packages is January 31, 2013. Please see p. 4 for details.

From the Office of the 3rd Vice President: The Lagos Easy Access (LEA) Committee will be canvassing for volunteers in the new year, so check the newsletter in January for ways to help out. Happy holidays.

From the Membership Office:The new membership directories will be available for pick up at November's general meeting.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, please contact Janet Hall at janet@thehallz.com to arrange a time to pick yours up.

From the Office of Social Programs:

We have been very busy! We learned to “tie one on” (in our gele class). We took our husbands out to the Oriental Hotel and discovered their sushi/teppenyaki table buffet on Saturday night was wonderful. We went to Bunyaki's (in the back of Bungalows) and discovered their chef does an amazing show with his cooking knives. Most of us decided that Nigerian shrimp is pretty amazing. We learned a little more about our cameras with Regina Fugate, a little more about the conservation center with Regina Fugate and a little more about Lagos with the “Welcome to Lagos” documentary presented by Carolee Weber. Carolyn Gaither set up a wonderfully spooky gathering for all of our little angels, princesses, and super heroes.

We had a wonderful Christmas bazaar. I want to thank each member that provided baked goods and hot dogs. I want to thank each volunteer

that helped set up and take

down. Thank you to each member that lent us a table, chairs, and coolers. Thanks to each member that helped sell tickets and helped direct vendors to their spots. Thanks to Carolyn Aucoin for making all the crafts for the ways and means table. And an extra BIG thank you to our Santas: Mark Muller and

NEWS FROM YOUR EXECUTIVE BOARD, PLUS MORE WAYS FOR YOU TO GET INVOLVED!

The AWC: Uniting American Women in Lagos! ! ! ! ! ! NOVEMBER 2012

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Adrian LeBoeuf. It takes a lot of people to make something like this a success.

In December, we are planning “Caroling by Candlelight” on Tuesday, December 4, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. This will be a festive fun evening for members and their spouses. Each member will be asked to bring a sweet or savory finger food, or a bottle of wine for the evening. We are asking for finger food so we do not have to have plates and cutlery. There will be lots of holiday singing and good cheer.

In December, we will also be headed to Germany for the Christmas markets. We will take lots of pictures to share with our friends!

In January, we will be ready to start planning for the next year’s Christmas bazaar on Saturday, November 16, 2013. We will begin making crafts for the bazaar. If you have an idea for a good Christmas craft contact Lisa Alexander at annalisaa@yahoo.com.  We would also like to ask each member to pick up one Christmas ornament while you are home or traveling to donate at the January general meeting. We will sell these at the Christmas bazaar. After Christmas

you should find really good deals on beautiful ornaments.

In January, we will have a few classes that need a little planning. We will have a mozzarella cheese making class in January. The kit is $30. The maximum number of participants is 11 so sign up early. December 15 will be the cut-off date for the class since the kits will have to be ordered.

Contact Lisa Alexander at annalisaa@yahoo.com

There will be a class for crocheting a cute children's cap for experienced ladies and pot holders for beginners.

Contact Connie D'Souza at conniedsouza@mac.com for a supply list. It will probably be easier to get the supplies while home for the holidays.

There will also be a class for learning to smock a baby bonnet. An alternative project is also available if you would like. Materials should be approximately $25. This is very easy and very quick and very beautiful. This project can be completed in a day. December 31 will be the cutoff for signing up for this class since I will have to purchase the supplies for this class while I am home.

Contact Lisa Alexander at annalisaa@yahoo.com.

If you have an idea for an activity or class, let me know at annalisaa@yahoo.com

Happy holidays!

OUR MISSIONThe American Women’s Club (The AWC) strives to:• provide a ‘soft place to land’

for American Expatriate Women in Lagos.

• foster goodwill and mutual understanding between our Nigerian Host Country and the American Expatriate Community.

• promote philanthropy, scholarship and the rights of women and children.

CONTACT USE-mail: theawclagos@gmail.comWeb: www.theawclagos.com

NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORSEditor: Karin TroyDesign and layout: Susan HuntWeb design and content: Kelly Hobbs

The AWC: Uniting American Women in Lagos! ! ! ! ! ! NOVEMBER 2012

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I remember getting a call from The AWC to be a mentor. I first thought, me ... a mentor? Why? To be quite honest, I thought I was too busy to mentor anyone. Sometimes I have issues finding time for myself. But then, after speaking with the committee member and getting assurance that it’s not babysitting—it’s more guiding and advising—I took on the challenge. It felt quite good to take the first step.

My story is a bit different, as my mentee lived out of Lagos.  Her name is Asha Agbashim; her field of study is Communication.  She lives in Jos. So we mainly communicated by phone.

I picked up her laptop, which was given to her by The AWC. We introduced ourselves by phone. It was a very pleasant exchange, and I could hear in her voice how grateful and thankful she was to have an outsider hold her hand through the phone. Shocking, but true. 

Now for my mentee, she did not get her laptop immediately as the unsettling issues up north were in full swing and traveling to Lagos for her was near impossible. I phoned her weekly, sometimes twice a week! She was quite happy. Finally, I flew to Abuja and we met. She brought her parents and her brother.  They were all so grateful.

She is currently still studying at the University of Jos. Doing very well. She is about to start her internship. She remains very focused and thankful. We still communicate.

What I have taken away from this experience is humbleness, gratitude, listening. Sometimes we all just need encouragement—maybe not physically, but emotionally. Her bright smile and

upbeat voice on the other end of the line kept me upbeat and grateful that I decided to become a mentor.

Being a Mentor: an Experience I Won’t Forget by Sherese Ijewere

About The AWC Scholarship Program The AWC Scholarship Program has been active in the Lagos community for over 30 years. This program offers academic scholarships to secondary school students attending university programs. To date, over 300 students have benefited not only from the financial support but also from the mentorship provided by The AWC members who have acted as student sponsors. Sponsors help to identify potential students, assist them through the application process and act as mentors throughout their time in university.

Eligibility Criteria:All  scholarship applicants must:

1. Be a Nigerian citizen, preferably a woman

2. Have a Lagos residential or mailing address 

3. Be recommended and sponsored by a current member of The AWC

4. Have completed secondary school

5. Have their WAEC or NECO results, have JAMB or POLY JAMB results, and undergo a review of program and university if enrolled in a pre-diploma program 

6. Demonstrate financial need 

7. Have proof of acceptance into an accredited federal or state university or a Polytechnic (no private institutions) 

8. Show proof of enrollment in a school 

DEADLINE: January 31, 2013

All Student Sponsors Must:Be a current member of The AWC

• Know their student personally (except when a student is transferred from one sponsor to another due to sponsor's relocation)

• Help their student manage The AWC scholarship application process

• Submit the completed application package to the scholarship chairperson before the deadline

• Help with interview process and be part of The AWC Scholarship Committee

• Be willing to mentor their student over the period of a full academic year

• Be capable of monitoring their student’s academic progress 

• Identify a new sponsor for their student in the case of relocation

• Respect the decisions made by the Scholarship Committee

• Attend all AWC functions that require the students' attendance

To learn more about becoming a sponsor with The AWC scholarship program, please contact Margaret Anyigbo at anyigbom@state.gov.

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Monday, December 3

10:00 a.m. Stitching and Potluck at Kristen Tierney's homeContact Kristen at mk_tierney@yahoo.com to RSVP.

Tuesday, December 4

6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Caroling by Candlelight

This will take the place of the coffee and there is no general meeting.

Venue to be announced. This will be a festive, fun evening for members and their spouses. Each member will be asked to bring a sweet or savory finger food, or a bottle of wine for the evening. There will be lots of holiday singing and good cheer.

January Events

Bonnet-making ClassThere will also be a class for learning to smock a baby bonnet.  An alternative project is also available if you would like.  Materials should be approximately $25.  This is very EASY and very QUICK and very BEAUTIFUL. This project can

be completed in a day.  Sign up by December 31.

Contact Lisa Alexander at annalisaa@yahoo.com.

Crocheting Class

There will be a class for crocheting a children's cap for experienced ladies and pot holders for beginners.  

Contact Connie D'Souza at conniedsouza@mac.com for a supply list. It will be easier to get the supplies while home for the holidays!

Mozzarella Cheese-making Class

Learn to make mozzarella from scratch! December 15 will be the cut-off date for

the class since the kits have to be ordered. The kit is $30. The maximum number of participants is 11 so sign up early.

Contact Lisa Alexander at annalisaa@yahoo.com

Saturday, February 23

Small World 2013Mark your calendar for the biggest ex-pat fundraiser of the year, featuring food booths from 31 country groups and a live show!

Mark Your Calendar...

WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS!Elizabeth Onyeabor

Tiffany Horst

Cynthia Sloychuk

Raven Taylor

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!12/2 Jacquelynn Jopling

12/3 Sue Stewart

12/4 Raven Taylor

12/6 Carmen Huntar

12/11 Dominique De Oliveira

12/13 Pamela Smith

12/13 Ann Travers

12/19 Iyabo Alabi-Isama

12/19 Curbie Ibrahim

12/20 Afie Makinde

12/21 Monica Robertson

12/22 Krystle Leer

12/24 Denise O'Neal

12/30 Erica McVey

12/31 Connie D'Souza

LIKE US!Visit www.facebook.com/TheAWCLagos and like us today!

Students from the Ife Oluwa school enjoyed their Fun Day at Paloo’s Place.