Inspiring Women Spring 2018

September February 2018, 2017, Volume 2, 1, Issue 13
CELEBRATING LIVES ACROSS THE FAWCO WORLD

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Inspiration from the Editor 3
From our Cover Coordinator 3
Women in Sport and Fitness 4
Inspiration from The Netherlands 5
First Take: New Member Reflections 8
Tax Reform: What’s in it for expats? 11
Inspiration from France 12
Just For Fun 15
Inspiration from Nigeria 16
FAWCO Clubs in Motion 19
Inspiration from Austria 22
Inspiration from England 25
Home and Away: Don’t Eat Pie 28
Inspiration from Dubai 31
Making the Connection: Women, Sport and Leadership 33
A Club Inspires 34
More Inspiration from Austria 40
Inspiration from Norway 43
Inspiration from The Dragon Boat Ladies 46
Inspiration from Morocco 49
Sport & Fitness: Antidotes to Life’s Challenges 52
Inspiration from a FAWCO Friend 55
Inspiration from Italy 58
How Can You Get Involved? 60
Magazine Feedback 60
Inspiring You 61
Esquire Group p. 11
London & Capital p. 18
ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
This issue welcomes a new advertiser to Inspiring Women, London &
Capital. For information about investing go to their ad on page 18.
Click on their ad also to access their website.
Want to take your business worldwide? Consider advertising in
Inspiring Women. Contact Elsie Bose at advertising@fawco.org to get started.
FAWCO would like to thank Esquire Group for underwriting
Inspiring Women as our Premier Sponsor. This issue we have an
interesting column on page 11 written by Esquire Group’s
President, Jimmy Sexton.
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Inspiration from the Editor
I t ’ s a l w a y s
fascinating to me,
when we put the
c a l l o u t f o r
candidates for
Inspiring Women
magazine, what
the response will
be. With a theme
of sports and fitness,
I did wonder if we
would only get a list
of runners.
relationship naturally! But over the years I
have, like many of you, realised that fitness is
an essential part of my life and without it my
life is often harder and will probably be shorter
if I’m honest with myself.
So you can imagine my delight that, amongst
our eleven profiles, we have, as well as various
types of running (and there is nothing at all
wrong with running of course!), seven other
types of sport featured!
Some of the women in this issue have risen to
the top of their chosen fields, others have
been consistent participants at a less extreme
level. But they all have one big thing in
common: they have made sport or fitness a
part of their daily lives.
I’m not a big sports person, never was as a
child either. Sport is something I have to
schedule into my life, it doesn’t just happen.
The couch and I have a very close
So to those of you who read these stories and
think, “Blimey, I couldn’t do that,” I have one
thing to say:
Give it a go, you never know what might
happen!
Best wishes, Liz x
Liz MacNiven,
inspiringwomen.editor@fawco.org
From our Cover Coordinator
The cover photo for this issue is an image of Kirsten Kummert who is a certified yoga teacher
and member of IWC Munich, Germany. The photo was taken in Corsica, France in July 2017, at
sunrise on an empty and quiet beach. Kirsten explains “There were some
challenges in doing this pose. In the early morning the body tends to be
stronger but less flexible. A second challenge was the unstable nature of
the soft sand beneath my feet. But it is great for an early start and opens
me up for the blessings of a new day.”
If you have a photo that you would like to see on a future cover of
Inspiring Women, you can reach me, Marie-Bénédicte Luxem, at
inspiringwomen.cover@fawco.org. There are full details of photo
requirements on page 60 of this magazine.
Please note: we can only accept portrait orientation images.
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“I run like a girl - try to keep up.”
There is something unbelievably surrealistic when someone is
able to stretch their physical capabilities beyond expectations. It
is powerful, it is satisfying and makes us want to push ourselves to
the next level of success.
Women’s involvement in sports today is more exciting and
challenging than ever. We are participating in so many different
sports; something that would have been unheard of ten years
ago. Our abilities to be coached (we prefer to achieve goals
through consensus) plays a big part. Our ability to coach will
insure that the next generation of women will set new and reach
improbable records.
Women’s performance improvements are off the charts. We’re
stronger, faster and fitter than we have ever been. The results are
in and sports participation is helping us in our non-sporting life.
The women in this issue have a number of unique reasons for
participating and excelling in their sport of choice. They have run
faster, jumped higher and as a result achieved their “personal
bests” both in and out of sport. Their stories describe winning in
their own personal way.
We invite you to get ready, set - go! Enjoy these winners!
Elsie Bose
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Inspiration from The Netherlands
KRISHNA THAKRAR
American Women’s Club of The Hague,
Netherlands
From: Kenya
Lives: The Hague, Netherlands
I am of Indian decent born in Kenya and
educated in the United Kingdom. In 1984 I got
married and moved from the UK to Canada
and from there on to the US, India, China,
Belgium, three other states of the US and now
I’m here in the Netherlands.
Professionally I am an accountant, my work with
GE has given me opportunities to work in the UK,
Canada and the US. Upon our return to the US
in 2005 I started working independently as an
accountant as well as a relocation specialist.
Throughout my high school years I played
netball (similar to basketball, smaller court,
slightly different rules and no dribbling of the
ball), and rounders (similar to softball). Once I started studying in the UK, I took up squash and
reached a level that allowed me to compete at county level. I continued to play intermittently
after I got married and moved to Canada. Due to
injuries, I was forced to give up squash, eventually
finding enjoyment in badminton.
Early in 2015 I was introduced to Pickleball (PB) by a
fellow badminton player in Minneapolis who was also
playing PB. Despite hearing about it I had no interest.
But soon the numbers of badminton players were
decreasing and we were losing our courts to PB
players. So I turned to the gym as my new form of
regular exercise.
May 2015 came around and I decided to finally give
PB a try. That summer I must have played every day,
looking for various locations to play all over the city
and playing in various teams. Interestingly enough, I
learnt one could play 3-4 times a day as there were so
many locations where PB was being played!
It dawned on me, instead of traveling to Amsterdam to
play PB, why not bring PB to The Hague. I knew this
would be a challenge but it would be rewarding to
introduce my passion to a city new to me.
With some of The Hague team at the Dutch
National Tournament
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With US Top seed Jennifer Lucore, Kyle Yates and Atul Edwards
15 months later, The Hague has a PB
club which plays weekly, both
socially and competitively. This has
allowed me to continue my passion
while also learning about setting up
a sports club in the Netherlands. This
has been a true test of my
entrepreneurial skills and has been
the most rewarding experience in
my expat life. I am very proud to
have introduced something to our
city which allows the Dutch to be
involved in a clean, fun, sport while
allowing other expat families to
socialize and enjoy what, to me, is
the best sport - Pickleball.
PB is such a social sport and has
allowed me to meet so many wonderful people across the world. These players have opened
their hearts and homes to one another all in the name of the sport. I have stayed at homes in
Costa Rica, Thailand and Spain all in the name of PB hospitality! Pickleball has evolved in leaps
in bounds in the last two years to become a competitive sport, yet it continues to be fun and
really sociable.
Sport does not always have to be “no pain no
gain” – particularly in relation to PB, which is a fun
strategic game where you don’t need to push
yourself to the limit to play well. I genuinely enjoy
training and playing and know for a fact my
fellow players do, too.
Although PB, which is a strategic game, is played
with a partner, each player grows with the sport
to become a strong player in their own way.
Therefore your skills and ability to play the game is
independent of your partner’s! Your game is your
game. Your improvement, your growth, your
strategies, your statistics grow and change as
much or as little as you want it to dependent on
how much you put into the game.
Pickleball is now being played in many parts of Silver Medal, Spanish International Tournament Sept 2017
Europe and Asia, after years of only being played in
the US. In fact Amsterdam will be hosting the International Pickleball Championship in May 2018,
and Bangkok another championship in the near future. If you are interested in joining in a
Pickleball team and live in the Netherlands, go to pickleballholland.nl and give the game a try!
With many locations around the Netherlands, you will be sure to find a location close to you. We
promise you will be hooked! I’m sure Pickleball is being played in an area near you!
GETTING TO KNOW KRISHNA
Tell us about an event in your life that made a
big difference When I was around 10 years
old, a friend and I decided to skip school and
go see a movie around 1:30 pm. I had the
great notion of hanging out with my friend, in
school hours but out of school. We decided to
leave after lunchtime; however she needed to
go home and get some money and meet me
at the cinema. I waited and waited alone
before I eventually decided to go home
carrying the weight of being stood up by my
friend. I had not told my parents that I had
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skipped school that day to see a movie
with my friend, let alone my friend not
showing up.
When I got home I was so upset on two
levels. 1) I was hurt that my friend did not
come to the movies and believed that it
was her intention all along. 2) I had now
created a level of mistrust with my
parents and could not tell them the truth
of the day. I grew up to realize the
difference between trust and mischief!
Tell us something about yourself that not
many people know. At the age of 21, I
was on a backpacking trip around
America with a desire to stay on a ranch
and experience a cowboy lifestyle. Under the
pretence of seeing a ranch I was lured to
(what I was yet to discover) a Moonies’ prayer
house. Once I got to this remote part of
Colorado, I was asked to hand in all my
personal identification and join them. Soon as I
got there I discovered that I was at a cult
home rather than a ranch with cowboys
running around on horses!!! At afternoon rest
time I managed to collect my belongings and
escape from the ranch site, where I was
fortunate enough to hitchhike back to the
main city.
If you could meet one famous or influential
woman, who would it be and why? Our family
business was in books, although I had not
acquired the love for reading despite my
access to so many books .
It was not till I was 10 years old that I
discovered a series of books titled The Famous
Five by British author Enid Blyton. The title of the
series took my attention as I myself am one of
five children! If I could meet Enid Blyton, I
would thank her for introducing me to the
world of reading through her The Famous Five
series – my favourite books as a child!
I’d talk about how her book connected with
me, hitting home the point that we are all part
of the same universe and experience the
same feelings whether we live in Kenya or we
live in the UK.
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First Take : New Member Reflections
New members join our clubs regularly and we thought we would give them a voice here in
Inspiring Women. These stories are about or from women, often new to expat life, who have
something to tell us. Our first feature is by Lyn Herr and Teresa Perez Y Landazuri, who are new
members from the American Women’s Club of Hamburg, Germany (Region 5).
LYN HERR
From: Greenwood, WI, USA
Lives: Hamburg, Germany
TERESA PEREZ Y LANDAZURI
From: Ireland
Lives: Hamburg, Germany
In June 2017, after attending a “Hello Mumbai Evening” fundraiser/awareness session hosted by
Carol Strametz, AWCH’s FAWCO representative, we were inspired to plan a fundraising event for
FAWCO. The evening included music, dancing, food, wine and information on FAWCO’s global
initiatives. On the drive home that night, we decided to do something to support FAWCO. We
went to lunch with Tracy Moede, VP of Programs for The FAWCO Foundation, and she
suggested we organize a fundraiser. As we brainstormed various ways to raise money, Teresa
suggested organizing a family fun/run walk. We both loved the idea because it was the perfect
way to bring people together to promote fitness, friendship and charitable giving. However, it
seemed like a huge undertaking. It was only after we actually wrote out a task list that we
realized it was possible, but only if we worked together.
Initially, we formed a small planning committee of people who knew we could rely on. The
committee met regularly to brainstorm ideas, provide logistics advice and suggest local vendors
that could donate as well as local organizations that would help publicize the event.
We also recruited Teresa’s daughter to create an event website. The website was an important
marketing tool and helped in our efforts to
recruit additional volunteers. It included key
event information, background on FAWCO’s
charitable work, inspiring photos, a portal for
online registration and a page where volunteers
could sign up.
When the website was launched, we sent
personalized emails to all club participants and
provided them with a web link. We received
many offers to volunteer through this website.
The volunteer support was really critical. Our
volunteers made pom-poms and donated
baked goods, homemade jams and crafts to be
sold or raffled at the event. They also helped
with event set up and take down.
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There were a few fairly big
challenges. The first obstacle was
that we both had recently moved
to Hamburg and did not speak
German (necessary to obtain
event permit). We also did not
have a strong network of local
contacts to assist with the event.
Fortunately, the planning
committee assisted with getting
the required city permit and
recommended local businesses
that could make donations and
other organizations to help
advertise the event.
A second challenge was
forecasting participation and
profits. Because this was a first-time event, we didn’t know how many people would be
interested in participating. We ultimately decided that if we could just get 30 people to sign up,
we’d consider the event a “success.” We dreamed of getting 100 participants, but felt
confident we could get 30 people to register.
To get a good turnout, we needed to ensure that the registration fees were affordable for
families while also ensuring a meaningful donation for FAWCO. We benchmarked fees charged
by similar fun run/walks in Hamburg and used this information to find the “sweet spot” for
registration fees.
Finally, we needed to drive online registration by generating excitement for the event. We did
this by sending personalized emails to club members, posting colorful signs on the event route
and publicizing the event through local running and social organizations and social media.
It had rained non-stop in the days leading up to the event, which took place on Sunday,
October 8, 2017. When we went out to set up the pavilions that morning, the water was literally
ankle-deep in the area we had mapped out for our set up. All we could think about was how
miserable it would be for the participants if they were wet and cold. Fortunately, we were able
to find higher ground nearby. Even more amazingly, as the sun came up that day, the clouds
cleared and we had sunny, beautiful weather. It was an unexpected break in a string of rainy
days. It definitely helped increase participation in the event, which included a 5k walk and a
7.4k run or cycle.
In the predawn hours on the
day, volunteers and their
families gathered in the dark to
set up booths, assemble the
sound system, hang balloons
and post signs. As the sun came
up over the Alster (Hamburg’s
downtown lake), the runners,
walkers and cyclists began to
arrive. They checked in, picked
up t-shirts, munched on goodies
from the bake sale, bought
raffle tickets and enjoyed free
Coke and Yogi Tea products.
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At 10:30, Richard Yoneoka, Consul
General of Hamburg, called everyone
to the starting line to kick off the event
with a motivational speech. Participants
snapped pictures and then quickly
began their treks around the Alster.
After crossing the finish line, participants
relaxed, chatted, listened to music and
snacked as they awaited the results of a
raffle. The day’s activities resulted in a
significant financial contribution for
FAWCO (over $2000) as well as strong
feeling of community spirit and
friendship within the club with 120
people turning up to participate.
Those that came enjoyed the event and talked about it for weeks. Pictures circulated on social
media and lots of lasting memories were made. The event was a really great way to engage
club members and strengthen friendships. We saw first-hand how kind and caring fellow club
members can be when supporting a worthwhile charity. We also proved that a small group of
dedicated people can achieve spectacular results and we learned how much money can be
raised through a bake sale and/or raffle! We were pleasantly surprised by this.
So, what is next for us both? We are both transitioning into 2018 board roles with the AWCH, so it
will take us some time to get adjusted to the new responsibilities. Teresa will be in charge of
club events and Lyn will serve as President. Additionally, we want to make the fun/run walk an
annual event in Hamburg, so we’ll have to kick off the 2018 planning activities soon.
10

Tax Reform: What’s in it for expats?
Unless you have been hiding under a rock, you’re aware the US passed the most
sweeping tax reform since 1986. Since its passage, my US expat clients have been
asking me, “What’s in it for me?” The short answer, not much.
Neither FATCA nor citizenship-based taxation were repealed, so plan on continuing to
file a US tax return and FBAR for the foreseeable future. Foreign reporting of things like
foreign accounts, PFICs, and foreign entities, are unchanged meaning you still have to
report them! The foreign earned income exclusion and foreign tax credit are largely
unchanged as applied to expats.
There are, however, some changes that will affect all US taxpayers, including expats. I thought I’d take this
opportunity to offer a brief explanation of them. Please excuse the brevity of my explanations, but my
space is limited.
Individual income tax rates were lowered and there are now 7 brackets ranging from 10% to 37%. The
standard deduction was more or less doubled, and personal exemptions were eliminated. The impact is
that fewer people will be able to itemize deductions. You can no longer deduct moving expenses,
unreimbursed job related expenses, business entertainment expenses, or miscellaneous itemized
deductions like investment expenses or professional fees to fight the IRS. The child tax credit was doubled
to $2,000. The healthcare mandate whereby you would be penalized for not having health insurance was
repealed. Alimony is now not deductible to the payor and not income for the recipient. Estate, gift and
generation-skipping tax exclusions were doubled to $11.2M.
Tax reform will have the biggest impact on expats who operate businesses through foreign (i.e. non-US)
corporations. Prior to tax reform, expats would often operate businesses through foreign corporations
because they wouldn’t have to pay US tax on their foreign corporation’s earnings and profits until it paid
them a dividend. Tax reform changes this. For 2017, they will have to pay a one-time deemed repatriation
tax - 15.5% on cash assets and 8% on non-cash assets - on any tax-deferred earnings and profits. And,
going forward, they will have to pay 10.5% tax on their foreign corporation’s Global Intangible Low Tax
Income (GILTI). GILTI is basically any income not from tangible assets, like real estate.
Have questions? We have answers. Contact us if you need help navigating the maze that is the tax system
in the US!
Jimmy Sexton, LL.M., is an expert in the field of international taxation, with an
emphasis on expat issues. He has presented to American expats at groups that
include American women’s clubs throughout Europe and is a sought-after expert
for several news organizations, including CNN and the Washington Post. He is the
President of Esquire Group, an international tax preparation firm and Premier
Sponsor of Inspiring Women Magazine.

Inspiration from France
JILL JACQUOT
Association of American Women in Europe, Paris, France
From: Ohio, USA
Lives: Near Fontainebleau, France
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I was born and bred in Ohio, and I earned a BA in
International Studies and another BA in French along the
way. My first taste of living abroad was Junior Year abroad
when I went to Tours, France.
After college I went into the Peace Corps in Niger, after
which I moved to Paris, and met my (now) husband. I
spent 2 years in Paris, 2 years in London and finally moved
to Romania to join my husband. From there we moved to
NYC, then back to Paris. After a short stint in Canada, we
have now lived in the same place, near Fontainebleau,
France, since 2009.
Having stopped working to raise my children, I recently
went back to earn a diploma in psychotherapy. I am now starting my practice as a personcentered
counselor
As a child and teen, I was primarily a springboard
diver, and I was also a lifeguard (so a little
swimming!). But after college, I basically did no
sports at all and only started running around the age
of 44. In September 2016 I became involved in the
world of Triathlon (swim, bike, run). My brother is a
triathlete (an Ironman to be exact, which entails a
3800m swim, followed by a 180km bike ride and a
marathon at the end). I figured, hey, if he can do it,
why not me?! And it would be a good way to do
more than “just” run.
My goal was to do a half ironman for my 50 th . In fact,
I hope to have it completed before I turn 51 in July
this year - I’m signed up for one in June.
I try to ensure that training doesn’t take over my life
(it is an ultra endurance sport, and many triathletes
eat, breathe and sleep triathlon during the peak
season). I swim with my team every Wednesday
night and Saturday morning, so that takes a little
time away from my family. Since I have a sporadic
schedule, I fit my biking and running in during the
day. I try to run 3 - 4 times a week and bike 2 times a
week. I also do a little strength work through crossfit.

But on a personal level, I feel much stronger (not just
physically). Building my physical endurance and
strength has also been a factor in feeling more
balanced overall. I have been quite surprised at how
my stamina has developed. Last year I did two
Olympic-distance triathlons (1.5km swim, 40km bike ride
and 10k run). It sounded a lot easier on paper, but
getting to the end of the run felt just amazing – not
giving up.
Also, I didn’t expect to find such a supportive
environment. Even the most competitive athletes are
there to help out those, like me, who are happy to
“just” finish. I participate for me and not for or against
anyone else.
self-doubt was huge for me.
But it’s not all plain sailing. During my first tri, I had my
first ever panic attack in the water. It took an incredible
amount of will power to keep going, I was really proud
to have found that inner strength. The swim was 2 loops
of 750m, with a short exit. At one point during the first
750m, I imagined myself drowning and no one
noticing, ha! So getting back in that water to prove to
myself that I could face and overcome my fears and
Fancy trying it yourself? I’d suggest shopping around, if possible, for a local triathlon club. There
are 2 clubs in my area and I chose Melun Triathlon because they have a true spirit of helping
each other. Of course there are those who just want to win, or be in the top %, but many
members are happy to help out (teaching me about taking care of my bike, peddling with me
at a slower rate, etc). The fact that there were a few women was also a draw for me. Triathlon
is still dominated by men, so having other women made me feel more secure.
GETTING TO KNOW JILL
Tell us about an event in your life that made a
big difference and why it did. I guess the most
important event in my life (other than the birth
of my children) is probably a breakdown.
After three children, choosing to stay home to
raise them, I had lost myself somewhere along
the way. Starting therapy was a huge step for
me (as it is for most who dare to take the
step). After a year or so of therapy, I realized
that it had made such a difference in my life
that I wanted to be able to offer it to others. It
also fits with me, the person that I am and my
natural empathy. And so I came to embark on
a 3-year training course to become a personcentered
counselor. The process strengthened
my understanding of myself and my ability to
accept my vulnerability as a strength, to
gauge my feelings and visions in a nonjudgmental
way. In counselor jargon, we can
that internal evaluation … knowing what feels
right or not from the inside.
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This internal strength has changed my life, and
most certainly my children’s as well. It also
drove me to be more physically active and, for
now, to the world of triathlon.
If you could meet one famous or influential
woman, alive or dead, who would it be and
why? I find this question really hard. There are
so many incredible women who have done
incredible things, how to choose one and why
would it be her? Perhaps Audrey Hepburn. A
woman of natural talent, grace and beauty,
she could have easily remained a star. Instead
she used her talents and her renown to fight for
the rights of people throughout the world. I
would ask her about her choices, not as
common then as they might be for stars today.
Listen to her vision of the world as a better
place, her optimism and enthusiasm.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that
not many people know. When I was a young
girl and a teen, I wanted to “save the world”.
My dream to go into the Peace Corps budded
around the age of 12, when I learned of its
existence. Prior to that, I wanted to be a
lawyer to “help” people in situations of distress.
Though I left the world of development after
my service in the Peace Corps (primarily due
to my lack of patience at that young age), I
continue to believe that the world can
become a better place. For me, becoming a
therapist has been a process of coming back
to my core beliefs.
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“When I grow up I want to be….”
“...living in San Francisco, first
hand learning about all the
wonderful new technology that
makes our lives so much easier
and of course, playing Pickleball
outdoors under the sun!” - Krishna
Thakrar
“...a therapist. If possible I’d like to
be an inspiration to women feeling a
little lost, a little worn down by life.
Like my mentor, I’d like to offer the
possibility to other women to dare to
find and follow their dreams. ” - Jill
Jacquot
“…an ice skating champion and dance
and fly high in the air…or a Doctor without
borders…or a famous actress!”
- Sarah Boulos
“...a writer and I’ll make
my readers dream and
wonder about my
adventurous life.” -
Anna d’Albertis
“ ...the hostess with the mostess. I
want to own an inn where people
can come and rest, dance, sing,
eat good food, enjoy stunning
views, find encouragement during
difficult times, etc.” - Alicia Partee
”...Robin Hood, Sherlock Holmes
or Dr. Spock (Starship
Enterprise).” - Urte Paulus
“...working for a local non-profit
organization, hopefully putting my
law degree to work after more than
20 years exploring other
avenues.”- Laura Tridico
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Inspiration from Nigeria
SARAH BOULOS
American Women’s Club of Lagos
From: Born in Burkino Faso; half Lebanese, half French
Lives: Lagos, Nigeria
16
I was born in Burkina Faso to a French mother and
Lebanese father and lived in Burkina Faso until I was six.
We moved to Brittany in France, where I lived until I was
eight. Then my parents moved me to L’Ecole des
Roches, a boarding school in Normandy, and finally on
to Lebanon to finish my French baccalaureate. In 1988,
at 17½, I got married and moved briefly to France,
spending 6 months in Fontainebleau, and then to
Houston, Texas for 10 years. In 1996, I moved to Nigeria
and I am still here today.
My journey has been filled with excitement, joy, and
deep pain due to the different tragedies I have
experienced. I have four beautiful children, and have
been married for 30 years, with the usual ups and
downs that entails. I treat every moment as if it could
be my last and always do my best to serve and support
others. My inner strength for this journey comes from Christ and the people he leads me to meet
in my classes.
I am a certified creative dancer and Zumba instructor with over 250 hours of dance training in
ballet, Latin and ballroom dance, contemporary dance and sacred dance. It all started
because of a calling to dance for the Lord, which led to me building a performing arts center for
Nigeria in Lagos. Due to a
tragedy in my family, my
fitness and dance world
became even more
important in my life
because I needed to heal
and restore my body.
Dance and fitness has
totally changed my
perspective about the
need to live a wholesome
lifestyle. It has motivated
me to do more and to see
life as a precious stone
and protect it. It has also
brought joy to those
around me. I love the
communication between

dancers, the depth of community we have, the intimacy of cherished moments of joy and
teaching joy with others individuals and peers. I have also found a sense of significance and
deep belonging, forging important relationships along the way.
Through my sport, I have discovered that we must be committed, we must be versatile in
choosing different fitness pathways so that our bodies continue to experience different patterns
of exercises, and not only one monotonous pattern. Shocking my body with different
experiences has made me stronger inside and out, and I lost 25 kilos after my last pregnancy
even though I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism.
I am proud that through my dancing I have been able to pass on the baton, giving others an
opportunity to excel, and becoming wholesome in the process. I am also proud that I have been
able to give my community a need for significance…a place where they can belong in the
fitness world.
If you want to try it, all you need to do is find your nearest dance studio and meet those special
dance teachers. Or you could get involved in a spiritual dance class in a church. You could offer
one yourself or just put on some music and start dancing without anyone watching you…the
beginning of a fabulous journey of self-discovery.
GETTING TO KNOW SARAH
Tell us about an event in your life that made a
big difference and why it did. In May 2003,
Unna from South Africa was praying during a
ladies’ Bible study, and she asked me if I
danced. I said I did at parties, and as a child I
had taken ballet classes. From then on, a new
journey started for me, as she actually asked
me to start dancing for the Lord. I read The
Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, which was
given to me by my friend Tanya, and one early
morning as I was waking up, I received the
vision to build a performance center for
Nigeria in Lagos with a mandate to teach and
build an academy.
In September 2003, while studying the story of
King David in the Bible, who also danced for
the Lord, I decide to pray for people to
support me in my performance center vision.
On December 8, 2003, while I was looking for
Christmas carol singers, the spirit of David
appeared in the form of a very strong gospel
dance club. We decided to join hands to see
the vision through.
Not long afterwards, while I was on holiday in
Lebanon, I heard, at midnight on December
24, that my uncle and aunt in the family village
in Lebanon had died, asphyxiated in a fire
17

caused by the candles falling from the
Christmas tree. Within a few hours the funeral
was organized and people from all over the
world were trying to catch planes to get there
in time for the funeral.
In the mid-afternoon on Christmas Day, my
mother, brother, sister-in-law, sister-in law’s
father and cousin rushed to the airport in
Cotonou Benin to get on the first plane. They
had tickets, to fly with Air France, but at the
airport they found there were 5 seats left for
an earlier flight. So, they
switched to UTAGE Flight
141. The plane crashed.
On Christmas Day 2003, I
buried 7 members of my
family, and my life would
never be the same again.
The world of fitness and
dance helped me along
with my spiritual journey, to
hold onto the pain and
grieve in a healing way.
Tell us something interesting
about yourself that not
many people know. I love
horseback riding and ice
skating and always wanted
to become a champion in
either field.
18

FAWCO Clubs in Motion
Clubs in Motion is a FAWCO initiative to
encourage members to stay physically fit. Why
should clubs get involved? Exercise benefits your
health. For every hour of regular, vigorous
exercise you do, such as brisk walking, you can
live two hours longer. And we all know that it's
more FUN to exercise with friends.
The earliest record of a FAWCO Clubs in Motion
activity was by AILO Florence in January 2010,
with photos of their Garden Walking Tour in the
Lucca area. They reported that they did not
cover many kilometers, but had a great deal of
fun, and that’s a good part of what Clubs in
Motion is all about.
Today there are 21 clubs (and one individual member from Dubai) on our mailing list (AWC
Amsterdam, AWC Antwerp, AWC Bern, AWC Bogotá, AIWC Casablanca, Chilterns AWC, AWC
Denmark, AWC Dublin, AWC Dusseldorf, AILO Florence, AWC The Hague, AWC Hamburg, AWG
Languedoc-Roussillon, AWC London, AWC Luxembourg, AWC Mumbai, Munich IWC, AIWC
Naples, AAWE Paris, AW Surrey, AWC Zurich), but not all of these regularly report their activities.
Munich IWC wins the prize for the best reporting of their activities. They are also the club that has
recently published a book about walks in their area, 20 Walks from Munich, with trail guides and
tips about where to eat and drink along the way!
FAWCO Clubs in Motion activities have traditionally included regular walking or hiking groups,
participation in charity walks or runs, marathons, etc., with clubs submitting monthly reports
including number of club participants and km/miles walked for each event. We do need three
or more club members exercising together for it to count. The totals are tallied, with the hope of
reaching the same number of kilometers as the circumference of the earth. By the end of
February 2015, we were only 145 km short of that goal. The clock was set back to zero after the
conference, but sadly, we have never achieved such record numbers since.
19
So, we would now like to
encourage you to report ANY
group physical activity, such as
cycling, swimming, tennis, folk
dancing, skiing, mountain
climbing, sky-diving, Zumba,
bungee-jumping, etc, even if the
motion can’t be tallied in the
same form as walks or hikes. And
we are ALWAYS open to new and
creative suggestions about group
motion. Why not Tai Chi? Just
because it is slow doesn’t mean
it’s not motion - and it’s healthy.
It’s certain that there is even more
motion out there. We’d like to hear

about it. If your club hasn’t yet signed up with Clubs in Motion but would like to, please send an
e-mail message to Maggie Palu (the one in the red in the photo on p. 19) at
mspalu@wanadoo.fr with a copy to fawcoclubsinmotion@gmail.com. And once you’re on the
mailing list and reporting your club’s activities, don’t forget to send photos that can be shared
with the other clubs.
Here are some reports from the Clubs about
their Motion:
AWC ANTWERP has a weekly walking club with
3 to 5 participants. Club members, along with
Region 4 conference attendees, participated
in the annual Run - or Walk - for the Cure (for
breast cancer) in September.
AUGSBURG IWA has been practicing Cardio
Tennis for more than five years. It is a high
energy fitness activity that combines the best
features of tennis with cardiovascular
exercise. There are 6 to 11 players on the
court, with music in the background, and all
the participants keep their heart rate at a
high but healthy state throughout the whole
Cardio Tennis lesson.
AWC BERN has one hike per week from the
end of May until the end of October, with 3 to
8 members participating. The hikes are about
10 km.
AWC BOGOTÁ has a Nature Lovers’ Club that
hikes every second Tuesday and Friday, the
Usaquen Walking Group on weekdays in
Santa Ana, and the Hiking with Dogs Group
that meets intermittently. Sometimes members
of the club organize outings further afield.
CHILTERNS AWC has a hiking club which does
two walks each month, approximately 5 miles,
but with a novel idea: they do the same hike
twice, once on a Tuesday and once on a
Thursday, which gives members a choice. The
club also has tennis, golf and running groups.
AWC DENMARK reports that they are reviving
their City Walks group, to meet every couple
of weeks to walk around Copenhagen. They
also participated in Ladywalk 2017, which is
Denmark’s largest one-day sporting event for
women, and they plan to participate again in
May of this year. Funds earned by the event
support women stricken by specific illnesses
(e.g., heart disease and polycystic ovarian
syndrome in 2017).
AWC DUBLIN aims for once a month, with
scenic walks that are not too difficult and are
accessible via public transport. They also join
an international women’s club in Dublin three
times per month for more difficult walks, which
involve driving to a trailhead.
AILO FLORENCE reports that most of AILO's
members walk several miles a day, since that
is the primary mode of transportation. Since
Florence is a “walking city” and is also small in
size, members get exercise easily by walking
just about everywhere.
AWG LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON has opened
its monthly hikes to members of two other
local anglophone groups in order to increase
the numbers. The hikes, which usually cover 6
to 8 km and last 2 hours, are often
educational, with descriptions and
background information about the
architecture, farms and ruins along the
way. Club members also regularly participate
in the annual Cancer Support France
Languedoc Walk for Life which raises money
to support breast cancer care.
AWC THE HAGUE’S Walkie Talkies have been
meeting every Monday morning since 2012.
They start walking in whichever direction
inspires them, with beaches, dunes, woods
20

and parks all nearby. They recently appeared
on Dutch television and in the local
newspaper. They usually walk about 7 km,
with a stop for coffee mid-route. In December
some members participated in a nighttime
walk, with special light installations dotted
along the route.
AWC HAMBURG held a charity Fun Run/Walk
last October to benefit FAWCO (see the First
Take article in this magazine). The club also
surveyed members on how they keep fit.
Walking was the clear winner, with close to
40% of all survey participants, regardless of
age, saying walking was an activity that kept
them fit. Cycling was another favorite sport
enjoyed by all ages, with 30% listing it as a
favorite sport.
AWC LONDON’S hiking group walks once per
month, rain or shine, for an average of 10
miles. It is a full day of walking in the
countryside outside of London, on moderately
easy walks, although in the summer the
difficulty increases due to longer walks over
more rugged terrain. The club also has a
running group, a health and fitness group and
a London walks group.
AWC LUXEMBOURG has three hiking groups.
One meets weekly, with a reconnaissance on
Monday and then a repeat of the same walk
on Friday. The hikes average 9 km and take 2
hours to complete, and many members hike
more than 1000 km per year. The more
adventurous ramblers meet once a month,
averaging about 20 km and walks take the
better part of a day. Once a year, on the last
weekend in September, they organize a
hiking weekend a bit farther from home.
Previous years have taken them to France,
Germany, Belgium and Sweden. This year’s
destination is a chalet in the French Alps.
MUNICH IWC, with its two walking groups (one
long monthly walk, and two to five short ones)
has reported thousands and thousands of
kilometers. No club will ever catch up with
them, but this isn’t a contest!
AIWC NAPLES recently had an inaugural walk
and is looking forward to further participation
with Clubs in Motion.
AAWE PARIS is organizing a group to
participate in the 12 th annual Rochambelle 5
km women’s walk/run against breast cancer,
held in Caen, Normandy, on June 9, just after
D-Day, as part of a larger event called Les
Courants de la Liberté. They will also have a
team at La Parisienne in September for the
breast cancer race.
AW SURREY has a hiking activity every Friday,
where hikers explore the Surrey countryside for
two hours. The paths vary, with easier trails
through parks, gardens and quaint villages,
and more challenging climbs up and down
hills, on muddy paths and over fences through
meadows and farms. It’s a friendly, healthy
and free outdoor activity for club members all
year round to help them stay physically fit.
AWC ZURICH participates in the International
Women’s Day “Join Me on the Bridge” event,
and invites other clubs and community
organizations to join them.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBER Renuka Matthews does
vertical marathons, and you can read more
about her in a separate article in this issue.
21

Inspiration from Austria
URTE PAULUS
22
I grew up in Freiburg, Germany together with my
mom, grandma, two sisters and a brother. I
studied Biology at the University of Freiburg and
in Vienna, Austria and ended with a Master of
Science degree. In 1991, I moved to Vienna,
where I married my husband and also we had
two children together.
As hobbies, I dance a lot (nowadays mainly Hula
inclusive performances and lecturing), write a lot
of poems, meet with friends and travel, and I like
to do handicrafts.
From the age of about three, I was involved in all
kinds of sports. I went to a school where my main
subject became sports. During my school days I was involved in swimming, athletics,
gymnastics, ballroom dancing, tennis, table tennis and soccer! As a child, I loved the film The
Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn and dreamt of doing archery, shooting with a bow
and arrow, myself. However, there was no possibility of doing that.
Then, just by chance, that I got the opportunity to
get involved in archery in Vienna. First a few times
in the Prater (Vienna’s famous amusement park);
then I found a beginners’ course in archery in
2000. From that moment on, I was into it. The kids
were at school, so I had the morning for
practicing (shooting practice six times a week
plus fitness and mental training or competitions). I
was basically self-taught, especially when I
became an archery coach myself in 2006.
Since I am not interested in technology, I started
to shoot with a longbow American flatbow
(traditional bow) without a sight or any other
aiming aids. Gradually my level got higher and
higher, and I became member of the Austrian
squad. In the following years, I won many medals:
In the 105 regional, national and international
tournaments I entered, I won 85 gold and 10 silver
medals. I also won a many national titles in
Austria (outdoor, indoor, 3D) and was an Austrian
Team member from 2006 onwards. I am really
proud of my World Champion and European
American Women’s Association of Vienna,
Austria
From: Germany
Lives: Vienna, Austria

Champion titles because I practiced
very hard.
In 2006, I opened my archery school
"White Arrow" for Austrian archers, and
then in 2011, "Archery Education
International", which caters to archers
and coaches from all over the world.
From 2009-2011, I was head coach of
the Austrian 3D-Team (3D = shooting
on plastic animal-like targets on a
course in the woods), and between
2008 and 2013, I was a team
supporter when there was no head
coach for the team.
In 2009, I became a national - and in
2011 an international - coach trainer (this is still my job), specializing in the Olympic Recurve bow
and traditional bows. I also finished my education as a sport mental trainer in 2011.
In 2010, I started to write a textbook about coaching in archery with many practical tips and
exercises for archers, coaches and coach trainers. It will be available in 2018 in German, and
hopefully in 2019 in English.
I have learned so much
through my archery. For
example: I can do almost
everything if I try hard
enough. But I do think that
to be successful, the most
important thing is to have
fun at what you are doing. I
loved to practice hard.
There was never a time I
didn't want to take my bow
and arrows and practice
my shooting technique,
focusing on every shot;
there were the days I had
to stop myself to have a
rest. When you focus on
your shooting technique,
the hits will come by
themselves. It is wonderful
to feel the body's tension and relaxation, the harmony and smoothness in the approximately 15
to 20 seconds you need for one shot.
I always had goals: for the training and for the competition. They were all related to my
technique (which key words I want to use, where to put my focus) and how to act in various
situations. Whenever I failed, I just asked myself what I could have done better to achieve my
goal and tried to act accordingly the next time. Whenever I finished an archery competition (no
matter whether I got a medal or not), I asked myself what is the next thing to practice so that I
can improve my skills. Archery also taught me to focus much more on me, on the moment; to
concentrate on the important things and blank out things that are unimportant or not relevant.
This all had a massive influence on my private life.
23

GETTING TO KNOW URTE
What personal motto do you live by, and how
does it affect what you do/don’t do? Carpe
diem: live every day as if it is the last. Always
live in the present, but do learn from the past
(your own and that of others). Always look
hopefully into the future and be optimistic. If
you want to be successful in life, you need to
have a plan and stick to it. However, never
forget to be flexible and listen to yourself.
Goals may change.
Also, always be yourself and live your dreams.
Do not live your life for others. You only have
this single one. Never wait until a man (or a
woman) asks you to dance. If you want to
dance, go and ask them yourself.
Tell us something interesting about yourself
that not many people know. I proposed to
my husband Hannes; I didn’t wait for him to
do it!
24

Inspiration from England
LAURA TRIDICO
American Women of Berkshire & Surrey, England
From: Arlington VA, USA
Lives: Virginia Water, Surrey, England
I married my husband, Anthony, in 1997, and we
have three children – John (17), Anthony (14) and
Nicole (11). Prior to expat life, I was a corporate
lawyer in Washington, DC. In 2001, we had our first
child and immediately moved overseas – a
massive lifestyle change all at once! We lived in
Brussels, Belgium from 2001 to 2004 and again
starting in 2009. We then moved to London in 2013
and have lived here ever since. Career-wise, I
taught French in the USA for several years
between expat assignments and now work parttime
as a freelance translator.
Over the years, I’ve been involved in track and field (discus and shot put in high school; high
school coach when teaching in Virginia), fencing (University of Michigan), recreational running,
general fitness and, most recently, golf.
I was a late bloomer when it came to sports,
until I discovered the shot put and discus in
high school. I competed at the state level, but
did not pursue it in college. Instead, I joined
the fencing club at the University of Michigan,
and enjoyed three years of representing my
school in the Big Ten. At that time, Michigan
did not have a varsity fencing team, so we
were the only game in town!
I drifted away from organized sports during
law school, and my fitness level took a nose
dive. Approaching 30 and massively out of
shape, I started running. I was not fast, and
could never have won a race, but had the
satisfaction of completing two marathons,
including New York City in 2005.
As I approached 40, my interest in running
started to wane (in inverse proportion to my
enjoyment of Belgian beer and chocolate). A
couple of years later, I realized that I’d let my
fitness go yet again. Surprisingly, it was an
infomercial for a workout program (Insanity)
that got me back off the couch. I bought the
25

DVDs, and over the next six months lost 20
pounds and got my body back.
Upon moving to the UK, I started to take up
golfing, which I had played a little bit when I
was younger. That is my focus right now: since
starting, I’ve lowered my handicap from 36 to
a somewhat respectable 22. I’ve gotten
involved in a match play team at a local club,
which is a great way to get to make friends in
the local community.
That said, my focus on golf came at the
expense of regular fitness workouts. That was a
mistake that I’m now rectifying. No matter
your sport, it’s essential to maintain your basic
fitness level, especially your core muscles.
Failing to do that can lead to injury. I’m happy
to say that I’ve been back on my fitness
program for a couple of months; I feel much
stronger and I’m seeing a huge difference in
my golf game.
When I was younger, sport was about training
to win for the team. Now that I’m
approaching 50, the most important thing is to
stay fit and use my involvement in sports to
make connections and friendships.
I’ve learned that at whatever level you
participate in a sport, you can get a lot of
satisfaction from working hard and improving.
Competition can be a real motivating force at
any level – you don’t have to be an incredible
athlete to enjoy your chosen sport and jump
into competitions. For the most part, the sports
I’ve been involved in are accessible wherever
you live. Whatever interests you, just give it a
go! The first step is always the hardest – whether
starting a workout program or joining a sports
club. Just get up and move!
26

GETTING TO KNOW LAURA
Tell us about an event in your life that made a
big difference and why it did.
Our initial decision to accept an expat
assignment way back in 2001 was lifechanging.
Growing up, my idea of
international travel involved driving across the
border into Canada, so it was a massive leap
of faith to decide to move to Belgium, with
minimal experience abroad.
Tell us something interesting about yourself
that not many people know. A lot of people
know that I’m a translator (French to English),
but don’t know that I didn’t start seriously
learning French until I was nearly 30, when I
lived in Belgium. Proof that it’s never too late
to start something new!
If you could meet one famous or
influential woman, alive or dead,
who would it be and why? I would
love to meet Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
She has a stunning intellect, true
compassion and a powerful sense of
justice. She’s also a role model in the
way she’s stayed at the top of her
profession at the age of 84. I think it’s
due in part to her dedication to
fitness – in fact, her personal trainer,
Bryant Johnson, just published a
book called The RBG Workout: How
She Stays Strong … and You Can
Too! I’d love to talk with her about
her fitness regime – in addition to her
career on the US Supreme Court.
27

Home and Away: Don’t Eat Pie
Home and Away columnist Robin Meloy Goldsby
recalls her stint as an exercise instructor and diet
coach in Flushing, Queens, New York.
January 1981: “Ladies! Listen up! It’s ‘Team Time
with Deanna!’ Grab your buddy and head to
the center of the floor where we’ll meet and
greet, dance and prance, and burn away that
winter blubber.” Deanna is a thirty-five-year old
exercise instructor and seasoned resident of
Queens. I am a twenty-three-year-old out-ofwork
actor/pianist and a newish New Yorker. I
wear a white leotard, a purple polyester sash
around my waist, and a very large badge that
says, “Elaine Powers Figure Salon TRAINEE.” It is not my finest moment, but I’m grateful to be
employed. I’ve graduated from Chatham College, a gentle but high-minded women’s college
in Pittsburgh, with a BA in Theater Arts. I know a lot about Shakespearean comedies and Greek
tragedies, but hardly anything about how to get work as a performing artist in New York City.
For over a year I’ve been counting pennies and looking forward to the day when I can afford
food that doesn’t come in a white cardboard carton or a greasy paper bag. Now, a little
uncertain about my next shaky steps in a city jam-packed with out-of-work actors skidding in
their own greasepaint, I’ve signed up to work part time as an instructor at an Elaine Powers
Figure Salon. I haven’t found an Elaine Powers salon with job openings in Manhattan—those
places are already staffed by Bob Fosse rejects, soap opera spit-backs, and runway models
who are an inch or two under the 5’9″ minimum. But I’ve nailed down a position as an instructor
at the Flushing, Queens salon, in the shadow of Shea Stadium.
During “Team Time with Deanna” I sit on an Elaine Powers weight bench and take notes. I’ll be
expected to conduct my very own “Team Time with Robin” in the next few days, and there’s
an Elaine Powers protocol I’ll need to follow.
28
Cats have claws! Dogs have fleas! All I’ve got are chubby knees!
I’m not dumb! I’m so wise! Pump away these flabby thighs!
Move those arms! Move those feet! How I hate this cellulite!
Pec-tor-als! Stretch and reach! We’ll look foxy on the beach.
Remember, it’s 1981. “Foxy” is one of our favorite words. Donna Summer blares from the Elaine
Powers sound system. “She Works Hard for the Money” is
the track of choice. The music and the rhymes don’t sync
and I feel like I’m caught in a John Cage nightmare.
Deanna, single mother of four sons, resembles a female
version of Barney Rubble. She is tiny and rock solid—no
chubby knees on her. During my shift, I watch her conduct
Team Time every hour on the hour. No matter how much
she jumps around, her Sue Ellen Ewing hair stays in place.
After Deanna’s third session I head back to the front
desk—a platform that oversees all the weight machines,
vibrating belts, and treadmills. The vibrating belts intrigue
me. The clients strap a belt around their problem zones
and the belts shake-shake-shake the fat. Wow.

“Do those things work?” I ask Deanna.
“Nah,” she says, evading my eyes. “They make your thighs
itch, and that’s about it.”
“Oh,” I say. “Who needs that? Itchy thighs. Blah.”
“Right. So. You understand all about Team Time, now?”
“Yes. I do.”
“Good. Okay, write this next thing down in your notebook.
It’s one of our most critical functions, as, like, Elaine Powers
role models and instructors.”
“Ladies, listen up! It’s time for your ‘Diet Tip of the Day.'” The
gyrating women step down from their weight machines,
treadmills, and vibrating belts. They swivel to face Deanna.
She is their weight-loss queen of Queens, their caloriecounting
pocket-Pope, their great white hope for slimmer
thighs and sleeker silhouettes.
“Okay, ladies, here we go. Your ‘Diet Tip of the Day’—drum roll,
please!” The ladies beat on the purple padded benches of the
weight machines.
“Your ‘Diet Tip of the Day’ is . . . DON’T EAT PIE!”
A startled silence fills the salon. Then the ladies break into
applause. After a few moments, they return to their workouts.
“That’s it?” I say to Deanna. “Don’t eat pie is your diet tip for the
day?”
“Yeah,” she says. “Good, right?”
“But that’s ridiculous,” I say. “Everyone knows not to eat pie if
they’re trying to lose weight. These poor women are paying $11.99
a month—”
“$9.99 a month for the two-year program, $7.99 a month for the five-year plan and a one-time
fee of $499.99 for a lifetime membership.”
“Right. What a deal. But shouldn’t you give them something more than a poem about chubby
knees and a diet tip that tells them not to eat pie?”
Deanna glares at me and I’m really glad she doesn’t have one of those Barney Rubble clubs.
“Sometimes,” she growls, “you just have to hit them over the head with this stuff. It’s not, like,
rocket science. Obvious is good.”
“Obvious is good,” I write in my notebook, which, thirty years later, I will dig out of an old carton
so I can write this story.
***
Cathy, a platinum bottle-blond with an inch of black roots, dangling earrings, water-balloon
boobs, narrow teenage-boy hips, and lavender tights, paces on the magenta carpet of the
violet-walled Elaine Powers back office. Purple, purple everywhere. Working in this place is like
living inside a grape. Cathy (who might be a man) is our manager, a job that involves chain
smoking and convincing middle-aged female citizens of Flushing that they, too, could look like
her if they stopped eating pie, exercised, and forked over
$11.99 a month for the next year.
Cathy has called me into her office to discuss “security” issues
at the salon. Deanna accompanies me. We all light up
cigarettes. It’s 1981. We smoke. No guilt.
“So,” says Cathy to Deanna. “Did you show Robin the panic
button?”
“The panic button?” I say.
“You didn’t tell her?” says Cathy.
29

I wonder if the panic button has something to do with pie. I haven’t thought about pie for a
couple of years, but now I can’t stop conjuring visions of my mom’s pumpkin, lemon meringue,
pecan, and peach pies. Flaky crusts, whipped cream, the works. I take a drag from my Benson
and Hedges cigarette, a luxury I can’t afford. I scrimp on meals, but I buy these stupid cigarettes
because I like the way the package looks.
“If any man comes into the salon for any reason, one of us has to stand by the panic button and
be prepared to hit it. Because we don’t want a VBI here in Flushing.”
“A VBI?” I say.
“Vibrating Belt Incident,” says Deanna. “Don’t ask.”
***
The following week when I’m alone and closing the salon—I step onto one of the vibrating belt
machines and hook the belt
around my butt. I turn on the
machine. In the mirror—there are
mirrors everywhere in this place—I
catch a glimpse of myself as I
shake, waggle, and roll. Look at
that. Turns out I have a lot of fat
on my skinny frame. There’s a
stout girl lurking inside me, and I
see her, right there in my jiggling
reflection. That’s it. No more pie
for me. I lock up and go home.
***
A miracle! Four months into my
Elaine Powers siege a music
agent calls and offers me a gig at
the Newark Airport Holiday Inn,
where I’ll play the piano five
nights a week for turnpike lounge
lizards, red-eyed truck drivers, and world-weary flight crews—the worker bees of the
transportation industry. For a while I do both jobs, but eventually, I resign from Elaine Powers. I’ll
miss getting paid to exercise and I’m sad about saying goodbye to Cathy and Deanna. During
my final Team Time, I blast Donna Summer’s cassette on the boom box. I work hard for my
money, chase away those chubby knees, and wish my clients well.
“You know what?” I say to the ladies. “A little bit of fat is okay. Be fit. Be foxy. Be healthy. Be
happy. Listen to music. Dance. Keep moving. Don’t worry so much about the pie. ”
Cathy smiles at me. Deanna scowls. I exit. Obvious is good.
30
Robin Meloy Goldsby's solo piano career has taken her from Pittsburgh to posh New York City
venues and exclusive resorts, and on to the European castles and concert stages where she
now performs. Robin, a Steinway Artist, has seven recordings to her name and has appeared
in the USA on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered and Piano Jazz with Marian
McPartland. She is the author of Piano Girl, Rhythm, Waltz of the Asparagus People,
and Manhattan Road Trip.
Currently, Robin is the featured pianist at the Excelsior Hotel Ernst in Cologne, Germany. Her
latest recording, Home and Away, launched on November 26th, 2017. You can visit Robin’s
web page at www.goldsby.de.

Inspiration from Dubai
RENUKA MATTHEWS
I am an individual member of FAWCO
From: India, now a US citizen
Lives: Dubai, U.A.E.
31
I was born in Kerala, South India and moved to
Washington, D.C. in 1994. My husband and I
relocated to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1996 and
moved again to Dubai, U.A.E. in 2004. I worked
as Administrator for a US law firm in Riyadh and
Dubai. I joined FAWCO in 2011 and served on
the Finance Committee for several years. I
currently am Co-Chair of FAWCO’s
Environmental Team.
I was involved in various sports in my youth. In my 20s I studied yoga and continue to practice
on and off. After I stopped working full time, I took up a number of sports including bowling,
squash, and running and I devoted much of my time to sports – and fitness in general. I currently
spend 1-2 hours in the gym at least 6 days a week. Since 2008, running has become my primary
sport and I have run in several 10 km events, 4
Half Marathons, and 3 Vertical Marathons (52
flights of stairs). In January 2017, I completed
the Dubai Marathon (42.2 km).
It was tough in the beginning. As a lifelong
vegetarian, I was “scrawny” and had very little
muscle development in both my upper and
lower body. I have worked diligently with a
trainer over the past several years and have
also altered my diet, substantially increasing
my protein intake. This has enabled me at a
later stage in my life to develop muscle mass
and increase my stamina. Keeping fit is hard
work but it is well worth it.
I ran my first organized 10 km race after
working out only on a treadmill in the gym. This
showed me the importance of training. In
preparing for my longer races, I made sure
than I ran at least half the total distance in my
training and close to the full distance 5-7 days
before the big day. This has helped me
physically to be sure, but it has also helped me
develop confidence that I could complete the
full distance.
I have learned that maintaining fitness is an

important part of my life and includes not
only exercise but also a proper diet. I
have also developed a great deal of
confidence from my running and other
sporting activities. I could not have
imagined myself running a marathon
when I was in my 20s, but with hard work
and dedication I made it a reality.
One of my most important achievements
was completing my first marathon in
Dubai. I had been training for several
years and while not a particularly fast
runner, I was determined to achieve this
goal. Several of my friends told me, “You
must be crazy,” but I was mentally strong
and ready for this challenge. I displayed
pure grit that day and finished the race
feeling confident and stronger than ever.
GETTING TO KNOW RENUKA
If you could try a sport/fitness activity you’ve
not done before, what would it be and why? I
would love to participate in an Ironman
competition, which combines swimming,
biking and running. Sadly, I am unable to swim
despite taking lessons for over a year. The
Ironman is simply beyond my reach.
What personal motto do you live by and how
does it affect what you do/don’t do? “Don’t
make excuses; just carry on.” This applies to
almost everything in life.
If you could meet one person or influential
women, alive or dead, who would it be and
why? There are two such people in my life.
The first is Mother Teresa. She was an
extraordinary person. She had an impact on
my life because she has inspired not only me
but countless others by her selfless actions –
undergoing great personal sacrifice to make
life better for the poorest of the poor and the
sick and dying. She did everything with an
enormous smile on her face. If she were alive, I
would love to have a dialogue with her about
creating opportunities for the most
disadvantaged people to have access to
education, medical care, etc., and to learn
how to plant seeds of empathy in others.
While few of us can emulate Mother Teresa,
we can all aspire to develop and spread
some of her passion and commitment for the
less fortunate in life.
My parents played a huge role in my
upbringing as well, especially my mother. She
taught me the meaning of love and the
importance of caring for and helping others.
She has always maintained an open mind
and warm heart and taught us not to
distinguish between rich and poor, nor to
discriminate based on religion or color. I am so
grateful for that.
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33

A Club Inspires: AWC Amsterdam
There are FAWCO clubs of all sizes and shapes across the world. A Club Inspires is a feature
where you will learn more about one of them. This time we are pleased to share with you one of
the FAWCO clubs based in Region 4: American Women’s Club of Amsterdam. Over to their
FAWCO Reps Lauren Mescon and Julie Lehr...
The American Women’s Club of Amsterdam (AWCA) was started in 1927 by Carolyn Korthals
Altes. The first meetings were held at the home of the wife of the US Consul General, who was an
early member. While the club was started for social and cultural purposes, they soon began to
get involved in serving the public. The club actually began their own “Marshall Plan” before the
official one started. They would reach out to their friends in the States who would send care
packages full of needed items and the AWCA would distribute the packages. The Americans
back home were so happy to help that this continued for several years until the AWCA actually
had to beg their friends to stop sending them!
We have about 260 members representing a
variety of nationalities. The majority are
Americans but quite a few are not. Many of
our members are here for their husband’s or
partner’s job, although, not exclusively;
many women also came sans partners for
their own careers.
There is an elected board and candidates
are solicited via our nominating committee,
in accordance with club by-laws. We usually
have an amazing slate of officers, with most
positions being filled with co-leaders (i.e. two
people). With the busy schedules of many of
our members as a result of their jobs,
children or travels, they are more comfortable not having sole responsibility for something. The
beauty of our board, though, is that everyone does everything; if someone is missing, even last
minute for unforeseen reasons, the rest of the board does not hesitate to step in.
We have two monthly meetings - a daytime General Meeting (GM) and an evening event the
following week known as At Night. The speakers are different as the At Night meetings tend to
be smaller and attended by members who work during the day. Naturally we also have regular
activities, from book clubs to cooking club to
Pokeno nights to Guys Night Out to pub
nights. There are tons of newcomers’
activities, including a monthly newcomers’
coffee, lunch and a Saturday night cocktail
party. Everyone is welcome and there are
plenty of non-newcomer regulars at each
one. We also have a robust excursions
program which includes day trips and
overnight trips.
34
The club also fundraises for the FAWCO Target
project. This year we were really excited to
have “Raise Your Hand for Education” events
both for members and a corporation. We

painted nails for a fee and
had all of the participants
“raise their hands for
education.” We also had a
fabulous Share Your Gifts for
Good campaign which was
the brainchild of our member,
Margaret Dwyer, after the
Paris Regional, her first-ever
FAWCO meeting attended
shortly before she repatriates
(in February!). Over six weeks
we solicited “gifts” (talents)
from our members which
consisted of things such as
flower arranging, antique
tours, teaching mahjong, dog
sitting, yoga, horoscopes,
foodie tours - you name it and
our members offered it. We then held an online auction where other members bid on the
items. The auction culminated at our newcomers’ cocktail party in November; to ensure that all
members could participate, even if they were unable to attend the party, we offered “buy it
now” prices on everything. As a result, we raised 6005 euros for Hope Beyond Displacement
and created relationships among club members that had not existed before. It was a great
way to promote the Target Project and at the same time build community within our club.
We are very proud of our club’s philanthropic efforts:
• Several members of the club supply the funds for food and cook a meal on a monthly
basis for De Kloof, Amsterdam’s oldest shelter for the homeless.
• One group created their own foundation to support Safe Spaces, an education and
empowerment program that supports 1200 girls and young women in the Eastland slums
of Nairobi, Kenya to get an education, learn life skills and reproductive rights, find their
voice, and take up leadership positions in their community.
• Another group volunteers for
Not For Sale, a nonprofit that
offers victims of human
trafficking a new perspective
on their future. Through its
social enterprises it provides
education and training to
bridge the gap to the job
market and society.
Our club is 91 years old and
evolving with the times. Our
membership is dynamic and allinclusive
with members ranging
from those who have been
members for over 20 years to the
newbies who are stepping up to
join the executive board; they
want to give back and ensure
that all new members have the
same great experiences that they have already had. Our members recognize that FAWCO
takes us from being a local organization to a global one and that together we can have a
larger impact on the things that are important to us all.
35

Visiting Amsterdam
Julie: Amsterdam is a great city! I had no idea what to expect when we arrived here. I tend to
be a “homebody” and would have been content to spend my whole life in the place I was
born and raised. Needless to say, I was extremely hesitant and nervous to embark on such a
HUGE life change to an unknown place. I was pleasantly surprised at what our new hometown
had to offer! It’s like history come to life in Amsterdam! I love roaming the streets and seeing
signs of the past in the buildings and architecture, some of which date as far back as the
15 th /16 th century. As I stroll the canals, I find
myself thinking of how life must have been
and what insight it took to understand how
to use water to the city’s advantage
instead of fighting it. I also absolutely love
that I can walk or bike anywhere I need to
and that going months without driving or
riding in a car seems completely normal….
Almost to the point that I get frustrated
back in the States when I have no choice!
Some undiscovered gems for you:
• Kinderdijks are amazing (https://
www.kinderdijk.com). It is like the
unknown little sister to Zaanse Schans, the popular tourist destination to see windmills. It‘s
super small and very quaint, with access to some very cool windmills.
• Also taking the ferry across the Ij to bike through towns and along the dykes is another
great thing to do.
• The museums in the city are too numerous to mention but the Amsterdam Museum, Our
Lord in the Attic, Museum of Bags and Purses, and the National Maritime Museum are a
few lesser known ones that are among my favorites.
Lauren: The Dutch are very direct! But once you get past that they can be very friendly! They
love their coffee and everyone, from workers to visitors, must be offered coffee (and a biscuit)
when they come to your house.
For me, King’s Day is the best day of the year - the city is one giant garage sale and everyone
wears orange for the House of Orange, the royal family. Then New Year’s Eve is the best night of
the year (if you like fireworks) as the fireworks are non-stop from midnight until around 2 am and
they are everywhere!
Julie: The thing that first struck me when we moved to the Netherlands was the passion of the
Dutch to bike everywhere! Their bikes are like an extension of themselves. They are so efficient as
they ride and the things I have seen them transport is mind boggling… several bags of groceries
balanced on handle bars and the back, appliances and so much more! This usually done while
also riding multiple children in a cart on the
front of the bike, one on a seat on the handle
bars and one standing, yes standing, on the
back of the bike holding on to their parent’s
shoulders. Oh, and did I mention no one is
wearing a helmet! For this triathlete from the
States, that was shocking! It seems to work
though and I quickly realized that if you want to
fit in and not stand out like a tourist or expat,
you don’t wear yours either unless you’re riding
your race bike. Finally, what I love about their
love of biking is that bikes outnumber cars and
the bikes actually have the right of way and
drivers respect that.
36

GETTING TO KNOW LAUREN AND JULIE
LAUREN
GORDON
MESCON
From:
Savannah,
Georgia, USA
Lives:
Amsterdam,
Netherlands
My life journey has been fabulous, really.
Grew up in Savannah, small town living,
became a lawyer, Guardian ad litem and
mediator, loved my practice and clients
(mostly), worked very hard as I was a single
mom for eight years and am now very happily
married with a total of four amazing adult
children, two daughters-in-law and a
grandbaby (omg - how did I do this without
aging?) on the way! Living in Europe has
allowed me to retire and see places I never
dreamed I would.
My sport is running. I honestly detested it; I did
it with my husband as a way to get my
exercise out of the way early in the morning;
until I moved here. With all of the new things
we have to absorb as expats in a totally new
place, running kept me grounded. I would
plug in my headphones, go outside and run,
simply putting one foot in front of the other. I
think it was the familiarity of it that felt so
good. Now I cannot go for very long without
going for a run.
Tell us about an event in your life that made a
big difference and why it did. I survived a
major illness 28 years ago. I dislike calling
myself a “breast cancer survivor” as that is the
last thing I want to define me. However, as I
approach 28 years of beating that horrible
disease, I would like to think I might have
been able to inspire others to have faith and
a positive
outlook should
they ever
have to face
something
similar in their
own lives.
JULIE LEHR
From: Cincinnati,
OH, then Red
Bank, NJ, USA
Lives:
Amsterdam,
Netherlands
I’ve had a lot of ups and
downs on my journey,
but the ups far outweigh
the downs! I have found
the downs always lead
to
something
unexpected, such as…. I
was a widow with three
children when I met my
husband. Before meeting
him, I wasn’t sure life would ever be the same.
What he brought to our family can’t be put
into words. Today I have one daughter (and
son-in-law) and three sons and have taught
kindergarten, coached swimming (my passion)
over 20 years and now enjoy my expat life!
I was a swimmer from the time I was 10 years

old and swam collegiately for Bowling
Green State University in Ohio. These
days I have found my way back into
the water swimming, but have added
the elements of biking and running as
well. At the age of 51, I started doing
triathlons. Triathlon involves swimming,
biking and running. The distance of
each varies depending on the race
you are doing.
I have done numerous triathlons and
three Half Ironman races as well. But
my biggest accomplishment, and the
one of which I am most proud, is
completing Ironman Lake Placid in
2016 at the age of 56 in 15 hrs and 34
minutes. Nothing will beat seeing my
family as I was getting close to the
finish, running into the Olympic Oval,
crossing the finish line and hearing
Mike Reilly announce…. Julie Lehr of
Red Bank, NJ YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!
Even writing this now, I can’t believe I
really did it!
I have always had low self-esteem and
lacked a lot of confidence. Through
triathlons I have learned that things will go
wrong, but that doesn’t mean you quit. You
regroup, adapt and keep going. The only way
a failure is a fail is if you choose to not learn
from the experience. In acknowledging this, I
found a fierceness in my heart that allowed
me to believe that I could take on and
conquer Ironman. It was so important to me
not only to finally prove to myself that I indeed
was capable of something I thought
impossible, but to also show my adult children
that you’re never too old to have a dream; if
you work hard and believe in yourself (Wow!
What a change for me!), you will achieve it.
That day in Lake Placid, my heart was filled
with joy all day long and it forever changed
me. What a blessing!
Tell us about an event in your life that made a
big difference and why it did. I think moving to
New Jersey was a huge life-changing event for
me. I had always lived
in Ohio, had a great
circle of friends all
over the city, and
never said no to
anything, especially if
it involved doing
something for my kids.
When we moved, I
knew absolutely no
one, except my
daughter who lived in
NYC at the time. I was
depressed, extremely
overweight and so
38

out of shape that walking
across the neighborhood was
a challenge.
The summer after we moved,
Emily (my daughter) was
doing the NYC Triathlon. I was
in awe since it involved
swimming, biking AND
running! My husband and I
took the train into the city so
we could be there to cheer
for her and support her. I will
NEVER forget that morning
standing at the entrance to
Central Park waiting to see
her go by. It was my aha
moment as they say! I saw so
many athletes going by me
who had so many
challenges, including a blind
athlete being led by their
sighted partner and a very tiny mother running
with her adult child in a wheel chair. However
the one that got me was the man missing one
arm to his shoulder, the other to his elbow, and
he was running on two prosthetic limbs/hooks
because he had lost both legs as well.
I remember wondering how that athlete had
swum, then biked and was now running??? I
was ashamed and
humbled as I thought
about the fact that I was a
former Division I swimmer
who made every excuse in
the book to not work out. I
was fat, 50 and I was out of
shape, but in light of what I
had just witnessed, those
were NOT valid excuses.
I went home and made a
decision that I needed to
change my life and be
grateful for all the blessings I
had. I started working out in
earnest. I put my name into
the lottery for the race my
daughter had done, got
into it and freaked out a
little bit! I spent months
getting in shape and losing
almost 70 pounds. I did the NYC Triathlon the
following summer at the age of 51 - swimming
a mile in the Hudson River, riding 25 miles on
my bike in the driving rain on the West Side
Highway and then running 6.2 miles down 72 nd
Street and through Central Park - smiling,
laughing and crying like a crazy person the
whole way. It was the best day and I have
never looked back!
39

More inspiration from Austria
SAMANTHA DAY
American Women’s Club of Vienna, Austria
From: Melbourne, Australia
Lives: Vienna, Austria
I’m originally from Melbourne, Australia. My husband
and I are currently living in Vienna, Austria. I’m
studying for a MSc in Project Management and
Data Analytics. I have previously studied
Engineering, specializing in Applied Electronics, and
I also have a degree in Business and Management. I
really enjoy travelling and experiencing new
cultures, and I have been fortunate enough to visit
over 80 countries (and counting!) so far. When I’m
not training for my cycling I really enjoy jogging
through the Viennese Woods with my little
dachshund-cross dog, Chilli.
Most of my friends currently know me as a road
cyclist; however my first foray in the world of
competitive sport was actually in athletics. In
primary school I showed a talent for running 100m
and 200m sprints, so much so that they had me
racing in the in boy’s events as I was so much faster than the girls my age. I took running more
seriously in high school and regularly trained with my school’s athletics team for 100m, 200m,
400m, high jump and long jump. I
competed in athletics at a national level
for a number of years, but unfortunately I
did not receive the support required to
take things further.
I continued running for enjoyment (and
stress relief!) throughout high school and
then university. In my 20s I became
interested in middle-distance running
and competed in local running meets
and charity fun-runs in distances
between 4km-8km. My favorite event
was the 5km.
When I moved away from Australia and
joined the expat world, the type of
exercise I could do depended on where
my husband and I were living. For
example, in Berlin the streets were clean
and the air was fresh so running out to
40

the former airport Templehof was easy and
enjoyable. Things were quite different in
Moscow. At one stage I tried running to and
from work but would literally be covered in a
thin layer of grime when I arrived, as the
pollution in central Moscow was so bad. So in
Moscow I stuck mainly to gym workouts
during the week and did horseback riding on
the weekends.
But back to cycling. A few years ago we
moved from Moscow to Vienna. My husband
had been a keen cyclist in Australia and
decided to get back into the sport in Vienna.
In an effort to spend more time with him I
decided to give it a go as well and
discovered that I had a bit of talent for it. In 2014, I joined the cycling club VICC Racing Division
(VICC = Vienna International Cycling Club) and I have been competing for them ever since. I
had a very successful year last year, competing in 21 races and standing on the podium for 18 of
those. My sporting highlight of 2017 has to be when I won the Vienna Masters Championship in
Road Cycling.
Sport has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I believe that being involved in
sport has helped my non-sporting life in a number of ways, such as being a great stress relief and
keeping my body strong and healthy. Competing at a high level in any sport involves
commitment, planning, time management skills, mental stamina, self-discipline, patience,
training, etc., and these are all skills that can be transferred into non-sporting life. In particular,
my mental stamina has evolved: the ability to push through pain or to do a training session when
I’d much rather sit on the couch. Having the fire inside to dig deep and find something extra for
the last km of an event is essential. Pushing your body to its absolute limit is a crazy thing!
In terms of black and white sporting
achievements I am most proud of, being a
state champion in 100m and 200m sprints,
as a teenager. Then as an adult, I am
proud of being the current Viennese
Masters Champion in Road cycling.
In terms of personal achievements,
recovering from a very serious car
accident in 2016 has been an important
achievement. I was out cycling on a quiet
Tuesday mid-morning near Vienna, when
an oncoming car made a sudden left turn
and drove straight into me. Witnesses said
that it was like a scene from a movie as I
was thrown up into the air and landed
head first through the car’s windscreen,
bouncing onto the bonnet and then onto
the road. I was rushed to hospital, my bike
was destroyed, and I was unable to walk
for a number of weeks. That was over 18
months ago. I still have a lot of back pain
from torn lumbar discs, but I have worked
very hard to rebuild my body/muscles.
41

Fortunately, road cycling does not require a lot of lumbar
movement so it’s been OK for me to do. I have had to give
up other sports that I loved such as skiing, SCUBA diving
and horseback riding.
So how do you get involved in road cycling? It is still quite
a male-dominated sport and can seem a bit intimidating
to a newbie, plus there is the added unknown of what kind
of bike and clothing is required. Having said that, there are
some great women’s cycling groups on Facebook that are
very supportive and welcome all the newbie questions.
Also, you could try visiting your local bike shop as many
offer support and even organize regular social rides.
Cycling is a great exercise for everyone as it offers
supported aerobic activity. If you join a group ride it is a
great social outing as well, and depending on where you
ride you can experience some really scenic views.
GETTING TO KNOW SAM
Tell us about an event in your life that made a
big difference and why it did. My car accident
was extremely life changing for me. It took me
a long time to accept the reality of how
quickly your life can be changed, even
through no fault of your own. Life is precious.
All life should be respected.
What personal motto do you live by and how
does it affect what you do/don’t do? A
personal motto is not really my thing, but I do
like many of the Dalai Lama’s musings such as:
“Be kind whenever possible. It is always
possible.” I do wish that people would show
just a little more kindness and respect for each
other in their everyday lives.
If you could meet one famous or influential
woman, alive or dead, who would it be and
why? This is a tough one to answer, as I would
have loved to meet some of the pioneering
women mathematicians and physicists.
However one women that stands out for me is
Florence Nightingale but not for being the
mother of modern nursing,
but rather f or her
outstanding skills in research
and statistics.
Tell us something interesting
about yourself that not
many people know. I have
played violin since I was 6
years old, and I even
worked as a violin teacher
when I was younger.
42

Inspiration from Norway
ALICIA PARTEE
American Women’s Club Oslo, Norway
From: California, USA
Lives: Eiksmarka, Norway (right outside Oslo)
I grew up in Oakland, California with both my
parents and one brother. I went to Catholic
school most of my life and started my career
in telecommunications and technology in
1989. I spent a couple of years in Atlanta,
Georgia before settling in San Jose, California
for most of my working life. After working in
the dot.com industry for several years, I went
back to school to study theology and
marriage and family therapy. In 2008 I
married Tyrone Partee and moved to
Hawthorne, California and then finally in 2013,
I became a trailing spouse when we moved
to Norway.
I started cheerleading, running track and participating in a drill team in elementary school. As
cheerleaders we cheered and danced for our school’s basketball team, the St. Louis Bertrand
Lions. I joined the track team at St. Louis Bertrand mainly because my aunt was the coach. I
usually ran the 50 and 100 yard dash. I can’t say I was the best, but I placed first, second or third,
a few times. One time I snuck into the
440 and came in first place. It was not a
race my coach had signed me up to
compete in, but I wanted to give it a try.
She was very happy when I won and
quickly wrote “440” on my badge.
Track required practice three or more
times a week and a track meet every
Saturday. Drill team, was, however, by
far my favorite. The East Oakland Youth
Development Center had a drill team
that performed in most holiday parades.
We would practice dancing and
marching band steps to drums and other
instruments. I was a natural. I loved
choreographing new dance moves and
steps. We wore pink leotards, wine
colored skirts and shoes with pom poms.
In high school I participated in ROTC and
continued to work with a drill team. This
43

time we got to add the use of
rifles in the show. We did a move
called “the guillotine” where
one person would level their rifle
and spin in a circle while the
person on either side ducked as
the person turned. This move
continued down a long line of
about 10-15 people.
As an adult I continued to love
dance and started a boys mime
team at a Maranatha Christian
center. They would tell a story
without saying a word. I started
this team because I had three
boys with lots of energy. Along
with the many boys that
attended the church, they wanted to dance. The only option for them at the time was praise
dancing. They were not interested in slow moving dance. They wanted to jump around and
express themselves.
After moving to Norway, I knew I would not find the job I wanted without learning the language,
but I wanted to work. I walked into a gym that needed Zumba instructors. I flew to Virginia to
become a certified Zumba instructor and was hired as soon as I returned. I love that dance is a
language in and of itself. Without speaking a word of Norwegian, I was able to do what I loved
to do - “dance” and lead others in dancing too. Everyone in my class was able to enjoy
themselves, dance and train without one word being spoken. Just a smile, lots of energy and
music – a global language
From there I became a Les Mills Body Vive trainer. Body Vive is a strength, cardio and core
program. After tearing my meniscus, I wanted to do training to rehabilitate my knee and build
up my strength. Body Vive was
perfect to accomplish both.
Currently, I am not training but hope
to start a line dance class in the
future. I want to teach the Chicago
Step, Cupid Shuffle and other group
dances that people at all levels can
participate in. I enjoy being active.
My friends tend to call me the
Energizer Bunny.
My main focus today is inclusion.
Starting out I had to qualify to
participate in a sport. Usually it was a
popularity contest, especially in
cheerleading. I now try to do and/or
lead things where everyone feels
included. That is one reason I loved
Zumba. You could do “you.” As the
instructor, I had a routine but the
participants could add their own
flavor and intensity.
44

Fitness can be fun. Many believe it must be painful to be fit or that you can’t have fun. I believe
dance mixed with exercise in programs like Zumba can be a great way to stay active and reap
the benefits of being fit.
You never know what people come into a room with. Some may have a disability, be sad about
something, etc. As an instructor, I have the responsibility to make sure everyone feels included
and to put a smile on their face, if only for a moment.
GETTING TO KNOW ALICIA
Tell us about an event in your life that made a
big difference and why it did. One year I tried
out for the cheerleading team and did not
make it. You see, I was awkward! I was born
with a disability. Nystagmus is a vision
condition in which the eyes make repetitive,
uncontrolled movements. (My eyes dance
too!) These movements often result in
reduced vision and depth perception and
can affect balance and coordination.
Doctors didn’t know much about it when I
was young. They say that low vision is the most
difficult disability for people to understand
because you look so normal. Teachers did not
understand that I couldn’t see, even with
glasses on. Glasses corrected the stigmatism,
but nystagmus could not be corrected.
So you had this skinny, light-skinned girl whose
eyes danced. My head was always slanted to
the side because that is how I focused. It’s
called the “null point.” My eyes slow down
when I tilt my head.
What personal motto do you live by and how
does it affect what you do/don’t do? ”Be the
artist of your life. With every experience, you
alone are painting your own canvas, thought
by thought, choice by choice." Oprah
Tell us something interesting about yourself
that not many people know. I had the
opportunity to dance in a Disneyland parade
– that was a dream come true.
45

Inspiration from The Dragon Boat Ladies
LIBBY CATALDI
American International League of Florence, Italy
From: Annapolis, Maryland, USA
Lives: Annapolis, Maryland and Florence, Italy
46
Three years ago, I had a bilateral mastectomy, and this
trauma, life being what it is, has led me to a rowing team
in Italy. I’m now a proud member of the Florence Dragon
Boat Ladies, a group of over thirty Florentine women, each
of whom is a breast cancer survivor. We’re different in
shapes, backgrounds, and interests, but we’re all the same
in our stories, in our fight against breast cancer. When we
talk with each other about that history, we listen deeply,
respectfully, knowing each other’s walk and honoring the
pain. There are Dragon Boat teams all over the world, and
we join together to demonstrate visibly that there’s not
only life after breast cancer but also unity. We row, stroking
together in synchrony, ahead, vai avanti.
I’m American and the only English speaking member of the team. I came to Florence after my
surgeries to heal physically and emotionally. I have done just that.
In May 2017, our team of 22 women, ages 42 to 76, participated in a kind of rowing rally in
Venice. Our boat was the pink one: pink banner, pink shirts, pink caps, pink, pink, pink. As we
took our position among the other 1,250 boats floating in front of Saint Mark’s piazza, we heard
cries of brave ragazze which in English translates to something like, “You go, girls!”
Under cloudy skies, hundreds of Italian boats were joined by teams from all over Europe
including Finland, Great Britain, and Holland, each identified by flying its country’s flag. As a gun
shot announced the start,
the sun appeared, as if on
command, turning the sky
a celestial blue as church
bells chimed throughout
the city, and Alessandro,
our coach, commanded,
Vai ..avanti ...for za! (G o
forward with strength!). As I
listened to the cadence of
the strokes of our oars and
the laughter and cheers of
those around us, tears
swelled and streamed
down my face. My
teammates and I - we
were there; we were the
lucky ones; we survived.

We wove among small craft with single rowers and among grand and elegant wooden boats
trimmed with copper. The course was 32 kilometers, and knowing that we didn’t have the
stamina to complete the entire course, when the prescribed route turned right, we turned left.
The rescue boat appeared immediately and Alessandro asked the guards to accompany us to
the nearby island of Murano since we were cutting a shorter course. They looked at Alessandro
as if he were crazy and told him with a wave of a hand that we should go on alone. I panicked
as I tracked the large waves cascading in front of us, and then I heard our coach say that we
were a team of women who had had problems. With instant recognition, they lifted their red
flag to signal to the large cruisers bearing down on us that we were under their protection. We
paddled again, a single boat of determined women, kept safe by the rescue boat at our side.
As we neared the docks of Murano, the island famous for hand-blown glass, our protectors
motioned to where we should dock. We smiled, waved, and shouted thanks as Alessandro took
control again with, Vai avanti!
A restroom stop, coffee, and cookies. We then formed a line of pink on the bank of our canal
and cheered others as they passed.
With a final warning from Alessandro to make a good impression at the viewing stand (in Italian
something like, “act like you know what you’re doing”), we clambered back into the boat and
took our positions. Knowing that we would soon approach the finish line, we were silent. Cheers
from the thousands of people who watched our floating parade surrounded us, and as we
passed under each bridge, we raised our paddles upwards to greet the cheering crowd. They
all seemed to understand.
The reviewing stand and floating pier came into view, and although my arms ached even after
our shortened course, I felt proud that we had rowed 14 kilometers. The loudspeaker roared,
“The Florence Dragon Boat Ladies have finished the course.” All 22 names were read, “Vanda,
Francesca, Grazia, Cristina, Adrianna,” and the rest, followed by, “They’re survivors of breast
cancer and they hold a message of hope.” With this, we swung our paddles high into the air,
saluting everyone, to choruses of brave ragazze, brave. Then our team grew silent as Suzanna
placed a pink peony onto the water’s surface, “For Anna Maria.” We quietly lifted our oars
once more, for ourselves this time, and spoke in unison, “Anna Maria,” our teammate who died
this Easter. We dedicated our finish to her memory.
I watched the peony float away while my teammates were lost in private thought. I’d never
met Anna Maria, but I had raised my oar, too. I wanted to remember the woman I didn’t know.
47

I offered my silent respect to all those women who didn’t make it, who had gone before, who
had no choice.
We didn’t win the race, and I don’t even know if there was a winner. It didn’t matter. We had
already won. Vai Avanti!!
The International Breast Cancer
Paddlers’ Commission is organizing the
Dragon Boat festival in Florence 3-8th
July 2018. The Festival takes place
every 4 years and for the first time it will
be held in Europe. It will involve 129
teams from 17 countries and for the
very first time since it began all the
continents are represented.
It is an international non-competitive participatory event targeting Breast Cancer Survivors
teams who engage in Dragon Boat activities as post-operative rehabilitation. Born from the idea
of a Canadian sports medicine physician, Dr. Don McKenzie, Dragon Boat paddling has
become a rehabilitation therapy for tens of thousands of men and women worldwide who have
undergone surgery.
Organized and promoted by FIRENZE IN ROSA Onlus as the official Organising Committee, the
Florence Festival will be a sporting event but above all a social occasion in which Florence will
welcome from 4,000 to 5,000 people from all over the world. The participants are mainly women
between the ages of 20 and 80, who will meet to take part in the exciting Dragon Boat races,
paddling together on the Arno. They will also be accompanied by their friends and family, their
faithful and enthusiastic supporters.
AILO Florence is actively involved in the Festival by enrolling and instructing ambassadors for all
the teams. They will be helping with translating, getting around Florence etc. Each team will
have an ambassador to welcome them to Florence and help them during their stay.
The program forecasts three days of intense program activity: demonstrations, workshops and
social events aimed at awareness and dialogue within the large international community of
“Breast Cancer Survivors”, in addition to the dragon boat races.
For more information visit http://www.florencebcs2018.org/the-event/ or www.ibcpc.com
48

Inspiration from Morocco
GWENDOLYN DELLAR
American International Women’s Club of
Casablanca, Morocco
From: London, England
Lives: Casablanca, Morocco
49
I was born in London, GB and moved to the
South of France aged 23. I stayed there for ten
years, teaching English in and around
Marseilles. I then moved on to Casablanca,
Morocco, initially for a 2-year contract teaching
English in a Moroccan state lycée. During that
time, I met hubby Kamal and so I have been
based in Casa ever since. I now work as an
English-French translator and interpreter and go
to France around four times a year on 3-week
interpreting missions. We have no children,
although our niece is our “adopted” daughter.
In my sporting life I go jogging and have run
many marathons and half marathons and did
the Marathon des Sables ultra-marathon in
2010. I also enjoy hiking and have done the
London to Brighton 100km walk, the Cancer Research UK Shine night marathon and have
walked the full length of Hadrian’s Wall in the UK.
I was a volunteer for the London Olympics in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
in 2014 and have volunteered as course marshal for Cancer Research events. I am also a Park
Run running member and volunteer.
I have always jogged
and walked as a leisure
pastime. I got into
marathon running in
2006, and thanks to
jogging buddy Cynthia
Smith-Ayed (FAWCO
Rep for the Casa club
and former FAWCO
Foundation Board
member) I started
running marathons. I
would never have
dreamed I could do it
without Cynthia’s
encouragement and
run/walk method.

Now I have made new friends through
joining a running group and it has been a
way for me to integrate more into the
local community and become less
oriented towards the expat community. I
have found real support and comfort in
difficult times through friends and
acquaintances in the group. They help to
take the focus off the problem and direct
it on to the goal of the next marathon.
I think my running helps me stay fit and
motivated and able to continue working
past retirement age. For a while I was a
member of a hiking club; through this my
eyes were opened to a completely
different side of the country: rural
Morocco. When I started to get more
involved in running and had elderly
relatives to visit more frequently, I
regretfully gave up the hiking club.
In Morocco, the running club starts runs
at 5:45 a.m. Driving through virtually
empty streets is a real pleasure in Casa in
the early morning. The sea is also
beautiful at that time of day and I have
taken many lovely (or so I think) photos.
Through the running, I have learned that
rest is as important as training. If you do
not rest enough between sessions, you
get injuries or your performance will decline because of tiredness. I have also seen that taking
part in marathons can help people in the grieving process after losing a loved one. It gives
them a goal to work towards and that seems to help the healing process. Running is a mental
sport. Of course, you need to train, but ultimately, it’s mind over matter and it’s determination
that will get me through a marathon when physically I’m completely done. I have found that I
can “dig deep” and I usually do finish a race, even if I have to walk towards the end. It gives
me pleasure to say that although I’m slow (over 5 hours for a marathon), I AM a runner, just like
the Ethiopians are runners, and the medal’s the same for everyone.
Although I am not someone who is “good at sport” and have just plodded away at it, I have
done things that many people have not:
• I have walked 100km without sleeping for over 30 hours.
• I have done the Marathon des Sables and spent the night alone in the desert after
getting lost.
• I have raised money for charity through sponsorship and volunteered at sporting events.
• I have organized walking expeditions and encouraged people to get involved in running
and walking.
• I have started an informal weekend walking group in the Casablanca club for ladies
desperate to get out of the city.
• I organize a yearly fun run/walk for a local association for the visually impaired.
50

GETTING TO KNOW GWEN
Tell us about an event in
your life that made a big
difference and why it did.
Spending the night alone
in the desert when I got
lost in the Marathon des
Sables and coping with
the idea that I actually
might die if I wasn’t found.
I realised that I had a
choice: panic and go to
pieces or stay calm and
try and find a solution. This
taught me that however
bad things seem, just
hang on in there and don’t panic. Never
give up.
What personal motto do you live by and how
does it affect what you do/don’t do? “Trust in
life.” Most of the time “the sea of life” sends
us what we need. Call it the law of
serendipity, God, whatever. When the time is
right, we receive what we need.
If you could meet one famous or influential
woman, alive or dead, who would it be and
why? What would you talk about with her?
Zaynab, queen of Aghmat (the Moroccan
Almoravid dynasty capital), who lived in the
11 th century. Very little is known about her
and I would like to know her life story. I would
talk to her about how she exercised power
through her husbands.
Tell us something interesting about yourself
that not many people know. I was nearly
sent to a special school as a child because I
was not learning to read. As a last resort, the
doctor told my parents to stop reading to me
at night. This they did and within a couple of
weeks I was reading. It turned out that I was
just lazy!
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51

Sport & Fitness-Antidotes to Life’s Challenges
52
Through my life coaching practice, I have worked closely with
people who have used sport and fitness as motors for moving
through their challenges. To be clear, I am not talking here about
athletic challenges. Rather, I am talking about moving through the
life challenges of loss, abuse, and doubt – in other words,
emotional suffering. Suffering is part of the human experience, and
moving through it means you are alive. Indeed, every life begins
with the physical suffering experienced in the birth canal.
A life coach accompanies a person as they move from where they
are to where they want to be. As a result of a decade of
coaching, my heart is filled with my clients’ inspiring journeys. I can
rattle off the names of people who used sport and fitness to help
them move forward: among them are Simon, Joanne, Pamela,
Alice, and Peter.
Simon and body building
When Simon was a skinny 14 year old who required extra time for his tests at school, he spent
more than a little time angry and insecure because of the disrespect certain kids showed him,
some of whom were big and strong. He decided to take things into his own hands. His body
building started simply enough a few times a week in his bedroom with 20 push-ups, 20 sit-ups, 10
pull-ups, and an arm work-out using his mother’s one kilogram free weights. Steadily his muscle
mass increased. Simon’s mother would find him in front of the mirror flexing his muscles, and soon
enough his classmates noticed. At 16, his work-out includes 150 push-ups with handles, 50 sit-ups,
and 60 pull-ups. He has moved from 1 to 2 to 5 kilogram free weights. His doctor recently
embarrassed him by mentioning his tres joli buste. When he is disrespected at school it doesn’t
bother him like it used to. Simon built more than his body and the ability to throw a mean punch,
if needed. By sticking to a demanding fitness program, he proved to himself that he is selfdisciplined
and courageous, and that has built his self-esteem.
Joanne and yoga
At 39 years old, Joanne was still
suffering from an event that had
occurred almost three decades
earlier. Upon her father’s sudden
death, her mother “checked out” of
life. Joanne became a dutiful little
soldier, taking care of herself from the
time she was 11, and doing her best to
comfort her mother. She repeated the
pattern by marrying an alcoholic; until
she left him. With a new stable
husband, Joanne became a mother,
and it was then that the little soldier started to fall apart. She had always thought of herself as
resilient, but now the anxiety wouldn’t stop. Motherhood made it impossible not to
acknowledge that she had never come to terms with her own mother’s neglect. When Joanne
was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease, her doctor suggested that she practice yoga.
Among other benefits, yoga can reduce levels of cortisol, the hormone responsible for stress and
linked to auto-immune disease. Joanne followed her advice. At the start, her balance was so
poor that she could hold the tree pose for a mere 10 seconds. Her strength was at a low point,
and her body was inflexible from years of physical inactivity. Nonetheless, she persevered. In

addition to attending class, she practiced her sun salutations each morning and learned to
breathe and be still when meditating. After a year, Joanne was marching like a soldier again.
And at the end of our coaching, she was learning to play the piano, something she had always
wanted to do.
Pamela and martial arts
Pamela wasn’t lucky in childhood. She had been physically abused by her father and
emotionally abused by her mother. In her mid-thirties, in therapy, and very pregnant with her
second child, she requested that her parents and siblings join her for a session. It was there that
she realized that she was the only one who wanted harmony in the family. She told me that she
experienced a profound shift and finally understood that things would never get better. She got
back to the business of raising her own family in a healthy way, and to learning to accept her
“new” old reality. Pamela would tell you that the exploration she did with her therapist and
coach brought her a long way forward. Yet she also gives credit to something else – martial arts.
After a couple of years of three-times-a-week practice, Pamela sparred for the first time. She
faced a macho guy, returning his aggressive punches with her own. She felt a new energy when
they met eyes and bowed at the end of the fight. Unlike what Pamela experienced growing up,
this was a fair fight. She had held her own and departed the match with a new dignity and
strength she could call on going forward.
Alice and tennis
Alice was 45 with four children
ranging in age from 4 to 14
years old when her mother
died. She felt responsible. Her
mother had been with her for
the Christmas holidays when
she had chest pain. Rather
than take her to the hospital,
a neighbor who was a doctor
had checked her out and
told Alice: “Your mother’s
heart beats like a 50 year old
woman’s. She just needs
some rest.” Three weeks later, Alice’s mother was found slumped over her kitchen table, dead.
Alice’s grief was overwhelming, and while she did her best to hide it from her children and
husband, it went on for months. Eventually, she told a friend that she was emotionally exhausted
and didn’t know what to do. Her friend invited her to join her Thursday morning tennis group.
Alice hadn’t played tennis since adolescence, but accepted nonetheless. This was the start of a
love affair that endured for the rest of her life. Alice joined a tennis club and went from taking
lessons, to playing doubles on the C team, to playing doubles on the B team, to captaining the B
team, to being nominated Chairwoman of the Tennis Committee. She brought her children to
the tennis courts and taught them to play. One of her proudest moments was winning the club’s
Parent-Child tournament with her son. When her husband was sick with early onset Alzheimer’s,
Alice would sit him on a chair next to the court while she played, and when she mourned his
death, she played tennis the first thing in the morning because she said if she didn’t, she would
be depressed the entire day. Alice knew instinctively that practicing sport made her right, even if
she couldn’t have told you that it was because it permitted her brain to release endorphins.
Peter and spin class
Peter and his brother-in-law were the second generation to lead a successful family-owned
business. At work he was on the ball. But at home the story was different. Peter spent his evenings
watching sports, drinking wine, and falling asleep on the couch. It had been years that his wife
had watched him slowly gain weight and withdraw from family life. Finally, at 55 years old, Peter
decided that he wanted his life back. He attended AA meetings and stopped drinking. He
looked at his body and was disgusted. Peter had always liked cycling, so he tried out a spin
53

class. His leg muscles felt the fatigue just five
minutes in, but he loved the rock and roll that
the instructor played good and loud, so he
returned again and again. The pounds
began to drop. Peter felt a new spring in his
step. People told him that he looked great.
Then he caught a cold, missed some classes,
and then missed some more. His weight crept
back up, and he started drinking wine. At
one of our coaching sessions, Peter explored
the impacts of the behavioral choices he
had in front of him: drink or stay sober; spin or
watch sports. By the end of the session, he recommitted himself to the healthy life.
I will say it again. These stories and people inspire me. We can all take comfort in the knowledge
that sport and fitness are available as a way to work through the challenges and suffering that
we will face at different times in our lives. Really, aren’t they the most perfect antidotes?
Jane Mobille is an ICF Professional Certified Coach, as well as a facilitator, editor, writer, and pianist.
Previously, she had a 10-year career in telecommunications and as many again in music. Jane runs a
coaching practice for individuals and organizations representing a diversity of ages, cultures, and
professions. She is a member of AAWE, serving as editor of its quarterly magazine. She also authors a
"Teen Coach" column at online magazine INSPIRELLE. Jane and her French husband have a 24-yearold
daughter, and two teenage sons.
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Please be sure to mention FAWCO!

Inspiration from a FAWCO Friend
LAURIE KJEL BROOKS
American Women’s Club of The Hague
and Amsterdam, Netherlands
From: Huntsville, Alabama and Colorado
Lives: Houten, Netherlands
I started with ballet and jazz, and then
became interested in gymnastics. I was quite
competitive in that sport, and went to
several state championships and the Junior
Olympics. As I got older, I found other sports
to occupy my time. I played volleyball and
softball, then got certified in scuba diving
and skydiving. For a time, I was interested in
skydiving competitively, but I was travelling
for work too much to pursue that. I also enjoy
hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, paragliding,
riding my motorcycle, and many other sports,
but those are hobbies and not pursued at
advanced levels. I taught ballroom dancing
for a time as well.
I guess I’ve always been interested in sports.
From the time I was very little, I wanted to
dance. I think I’ve also always been a bit of a
thrill-seeker. Part of the reason I moved from
dance to gymnastics was so that I could
learn to flip my body through the air. I used
to watch Nadia Comăneci on TV and I
thought what she did was so beautiful and
also so powerful.
I grew up in Alabama, and have lived in
Maryland, Virginia, Texas, Washington
state, and Colorado. I’ve travelled all
over the world, but outside the US I’ve
only lived in the Netherlands. I married a
Dutchman in 2010 and have 2 stepsons. I
spent most of my adult life working in
v arious engineering, I T, and
management positions, but stopped
working in 2015 so that I could focus on
learning Dutch to pass my residency
exam. Instead of learning Dutch (I’m still
working on it!), I got involved with AWC
Amsterdam, then AWC The Hague, and
then FAWCO.
55

I think sports have had a major impact on
my life and they continue to help me
evolve through determination and focus—
both lessons that my experience in sports
taught me. Also, even though gymnastics
isn’t really a team sport in the traditional
sense of having to work together when
you’re competing, being part of a team
was still an important part of growing up.
We encouraged each other to do our
best, supported each other when we
failed, and learned to manage realistic
expectations while still pushing ourselves to
extremes. I continue to use all those lessons
and expand on them in my current
sporting activities. Most of all, I think sports
have shown me that taking risks can be
very rewarding. Something I may need to
rethink just a bit as I get older….
So many things have surprised me through
my involvement in sports, mainly the things
I never thought I would see or do. I’ve
fallen through a cloud at 7,000 feet and know what a cloud feels like at that altitude. I
understand that the silence of being underwater brings the world around you into focus like
nothing else can. I know the freedom of driving my motorcycle fast (yes, really fast), and the
sensation of the air trying to stop me as I twist the throttle to go even faster. All these experiences
and so many more are both surprising and memorable.
I discovered that sports can be really good for both body and mind, but I also found out that
doing sports to an extreme when you’re young can have some not-so-great impacts on your
body as you get older. I’m glad to see a lot of new technologies being put in place in all sports
that minimize that later damage. When I started in gymnastics, we didn’t have spring floors or
foam pits, or a lot of the “gentler” equipment that is commonplace now. The biggest thing I
learned about myself is that I’m not interested in
competing with others. My desire is to challenge
myself to the maximum that I can, and
encourage others to do the same.
My most important achievement was just
making the cut for my gymnastics team, after
having never competed at that level before. It
wasn’t a real tryout. We were only going to get
some information and then the coach said,
“Let’s see what you can do.” I wasn’t even in a
leotard, but he put me on the balance beam
and then the floor and asked if I could do
certain tricks. Some I had never done before,
but I had seen them on TV. I was extremely
scared, but I gave it my best and he said he
would think about it. I suspect he was testing my
ability to adjust to stress situations as much as my
skills. I don’t remember being more proud of
myself, even when I was winning ribbons and
medals, than I was the day I found out I made
56

the team. I was 8 years old and absolutely beaming inside.
I think many people want to find a sport to help get into shape, but don’t know where to start. I
think one of the best things someone can do to get involved is to ask yourself what you’re good
at, or what you want to be good at. Then just go for it! Have you always wanted to learn to
dance? Find a local studio and take a lesson. Want to learn to ride a motorcycle? It’s not too
late! Does scuba diving tickle your fancy? There are classes everywhere! Don’t wait or psych
yourself out. Take a chance and see where it leads you.
Within the FAWCO organization I am the 1 st Vice President for Communications—since 2017.
Locally I am the Club & Community Director and also co-president for The Hague club, and I
was the FAWCO Rep for the Amsterdam club.
My FAWCO role uses both my
technical skills in managing the
website and our communication
platforms, and my editing skills for
all our publications (including the
awesome Inspiring Women
magazine that was launched at
the conference in Mumbai).
I love everything philanthropic that
we do in FAWCO, and my
contribution to that is important to
me, but the “behind the scenes”
work getting the organization
running on the Google platform is
what I’m most proud of so far.
Now I just need to get more
registered users onto our website. We have so much to offer that is only for our members and I
would like to see more people take advantage of that.
For me FAWCO represents the hard work and dedication of SO many amazing and talented
women from across the world!
GETTING TO KNOW LAURIE
If you could try a sport/fitness activity you’ve
not done before, what would it be and why?
Bungee jumping or motocross riding. I think I
would really like bungee jumping, and
motocross riding looks like a lot of fun, but I
would not want to get too extreme with it. Just
catching a little air with a motorcycle would
be a blast!
Tell us about an event in your life that made a
big difference and why it did. Losing my
grandmother impacted me greatly. We were
very close, and it’s because of her that I chose
my personal motto.
What personal motto do you live by and how
does it affect what you do/don’t do? Never
stop learning and always strive to be a better
person. It really affects everything I do, and it’s
a good reminder when I feel like I’m
overwhelmed that everything is a learning
experience and there is always a silver lining to
be found. Sometimes you just have to examine
the cloud up close ;-)
Tell us something interesting about yourself that
not many people know. I once passed out
while skydiving, woke up still in the air but blind,
and lived to tell the tale!
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Inspiration from Italy
ANNA d’ALBERTIS
American International Women’s Club of
Genoa, Italy
From: Genoa, Italy
Lives: Genoa, Italy
used to ride, roller skate and I was pretty good
at windsurfing, but I never joined a
competition. When I was fifty I got my licence
for scuba diving, and I still enjoy it today.
For me sport is about having fun, not a
challenge. Results are not so important as long
as you enjoy what you do. My life is still the
same, with some additional interest. I think
some people focus too much on their activity
so that it becomes an obsession.
Sport is good both for the body and for the
mind; they are a whole and work together and
one affects the other.
An active life helps to keep fit and it is also
important for our brain. It also helps to fight
stress, which is a real poison for us.
I was born in Genoa Italy in 1950, and I have
been living there ever since. I graduated in
Mathematics at Genoa University and shortly
after I got married. I had two sons, Carlo and
Filippo, but unfortunately my marriage ended
in a divorce. I worked in shipping, informatics,
in an interior decoration shop, in a boutique,
as a technical translator etc. I’m now
involved in research about a photographic
archive of pictures dated around 1900.
I started skiing when I was five, but I never
reached any good results. My mother was
very fond of sports, and she wanted me to
enjoy as many sports as possible since I was a
young child. Later I started playing tennis,
and I still do, but at an amateurish level. I
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possible, trying to learn from other cultures and
people. Travelling and reading are the best
ways to broaden our visual angle on the world,
I think.
What personal motto do you live by and how
does it affect what you do/don’t do? Interests
not commitments. I try to be interested in as
many things as possible, but I try not be
involved too much in any of them.
If you could meet one famous or influential
woman, alive or dead, who would it be and
why? What would you talk about with her?
Beryl Markham, the first woman to fly alone
across the Atlantic Ocean. She was clever,
courageous and also beautiful. I think that I will
not have much to tell her, but I’ll have much
to listen and learn from her.
GETTING TO KNOW ANNA
If you could try a sport/fitness activity you’ve
not done before, what would it be and why? I’ll
try to learn how to sky dive. I experienced
tandem paragliding and parachuting, and
that parachute jump has especially been one
of the best experiences in my life.
Tell us about an event in your life that made a
big difference and why it did. The turning
point in my life has been the trip around the
world that I made when I was fifty. I spent two
weeks completely alone, meeting people of
all races and nationalities, and I felt absolutely
free. I understood how much we are
conditioned by other’s judgement and why
we shouldn’t be. Now I travel as much as
Tell us something interesting about yourself
that not many people know. I like writing short
stories, some of which are true, others which
aren’t at all!
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How Can You Get Involved?
The next Inspiring Women will be available in late May 2018. The theme will be Women of
Words and Language. As in this edition, we would like to feature profiles of some of the
wonderful women across the FAWCO world. If you know anyone in this field who has done
something of particular interest and would make a good profile, please contact the editor by
April 6, 2018.
We would also like to feature cover photos taken by or of FAWCO members. The photo
theme should be Women of Words and Language.
Photos must be :
PORTRAIT orientation (landscape photos cannot be accepted);
Digital and Color, 150-300 dpi quality and 5-10 MB max.;
Taken by a FAWCO member with details of where and when the photo was taken.
Deadline for submission is April 26, 2018
Please send to Marie-Bénédicte at inspiringwomen.cover@fawco.org.
N.B. Accreditation will be given for photos used but no payment is possible.
MAGAZINE FEEDBACK
We want this magazine to be interesting for all FAWCO members. In an
effort to provide articles of interest to all of our readers, we have created
an online feedback questionnaire. It should only take a few minutes of your
time to complete and will be a great help to us!
Please click on the link or paste it into your browser
to complete the survey.
https://s.surveyplanet.com/Skx7ski6Uf
Thanks very much indeed!
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Inspiring You
Founded in 1931, FAWCO is a global women’s NGO (Non-Governmental Organization), an
international network of independent volunteer clubs and associations comprising 63
member clubs in 33 countries worldwide, with a total membership of around 10,000. FAWCO
serves as a resource and a voice for its members; seeks to improve the lives of women and
girls worldwide, especially in the areas of human rights, health, education and the
environment; advocates for the rights of US citizens overseas; and contributes to the global
community through its Global Issues Teams and The FAWCO Foundation, which provides
development grants and education awards. Since 1997, FAWCO has held special
consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
FAWCO is an international federation of independent organizations whose mission is
• to build strong support networks for its American and international membership;
• to improve the lives of women and girls worldwide;
• to advocate for the rights of US citizens overseas; and
• to mobilize the skills of its membership in support of global initiatives for education, the
environment, health and human rights.
For more information about this magazine, please contact
Inspiring Women Editor in Chief Liz MacNiven at
inspiringwomen.editor@fawco.org
For more information on how to advertise in this magazine,
please contact FAWCO Advertising and Sponsorship Manager
Elsie Bose at advertising@fawco.org
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Thanks to Alicia, Anna, Gwen, Jill, Krishna, Kirsten, Laura,
Laurie, Libby, Lyn, Maggi, Renuka, Samantha, Sarah, Teresa,
Urte and the ladies of AWC Amsterdam for taking the time to participate in this
edition and for the use of their photos and those of their friends and family.
Liz and Elsie at the Mumbai Conference
Thanks to Robin for her Home and Away thoughts and Jane for her antidotes.
Special thanks to the proofreading team of: Sallie Chaballier (AAWE Paris), Laurie
Brooks (AWC Amsterdam and AWC The Hague), Janet Davis (AIWC Cologne), Mary
Dobrian (AIWC Cologne), Cynthia Lehman (AIWC Cologne), Carol-Lyn McKelvey
(AIWC Cologne and FAUSA), and Jenny Taylor (AIWC Cologne and Düsseldorf).
ADVERTISING DISCLAIMER
FAWCO receives financial remuneration for page space from advertisers. Views expressed or
benefits described in any display advert, advertorial or in any webpage visited online directly
from these adverts, are not endorsed by FAWCO.
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Don’t Miss the Next Issue of
Inspiring Women due out May 29, 2018
“Women of Words & Language”
She has a Way with Words…
Written, Spoken or Refined. Help us Find Her for our Next Issue!
We want to learn how one becomes successful in the world of words. Written or spoken?
Poetry or prose? Novelist or journalist? Do you have the passion that runs wild as an
author or possess the steely Zen of one who edits? Do you express yourself in your mother
tongue or a second language? We are interested in finding out what makes our profilees
pick up their pens and articulate their thoughts and visions in a way that makes it’s mark
on others.
The process is simple. Send the name of the candidate, her club affiliation, her email address
and a BRIEF description of why she would be an interesting person to profile, to Liz MacNiven:
inspiringwomen.editor@gmail.com not later than April 6, 2018.
Let the entrepreneurs in your club know that Inspiring Women is a great place to promote their
products or services. To advertise in Inspiring Women, Contact Elsie Bose: advertising@fawco.org
Thanks to the Official Premier Sponsor of Inspiring Women:
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