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Publications & Videos
Stories, interviews and recordings from across the WCI family. Search by word, year or club.
Sister Club News
Club news and photos, written by the clubs themselves.
WCI’s 40th anniversary, 17th Biennial Conference in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, Marian Adair Award, UN Council, CSW70, reports from 15 member clubs
This is the July 2026 issue of Sister Club News, a newsletter published by Welcome Clubs International (WCI) for its member clubs, written by President Lea Hesse and the editor Reem Iversen.
- The President's message looks back on the 2025-2026 program year, highlighting the 17th Biennial Conference in Indonesia (April-May 2026), a Parallel Event at the UNCSW70 Forum, a webinar on aging workers, a Board Orientation, and a new Giving Arm Program.
- The conference report covers the Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Bali programs: panel discussions, the Gala Dinner, city tours, batik workshops, the Marian Adair Award presentations, and the announcement that the 2028 conference will be held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from April 23 to 27.
- The UN Council report describes a virtual CSW70 Parallel Event held on March 16, 2026, with 113 participants, and a second collaborative event on March 13 about access to justice through education.
- The issue honors Elizabeth Faye Wickersham (1940-2025), a former WCI President (1996-2000), and includes news from about 18 member clubs, such as fundraising, social events, community service, and anniversaries.
- The issue closes with the Executive Committee list for July 2025 to June 2026 and an appeal to support the Marian Wood Adair Founder's Fund, which supports WCI's work on education and gender equality.Made by AI. It may contain mistakes; the page itself is always correct.
Board meeting in Naples, Lea Hesse elected President, Welcome to London rejoins, CSW69 parallel events, in memoriam Julia Banks, Broward’s 50th, Jakarta’s 75th, 2026 conference program
16th Biennial Conference in Taipei, Marian Adair Award to Julie Chien, Sun Moon Lake, CSW67 and CSW68, report to ECOSOC, Founder’s Fund 501(c)(3), Guam joins WCI, Washington’s 65th
President Vivienne Shen, Taipei 2024 conference announced, CSW67 outcome, Israel rejoins at 55, California club profile, Colorado’s 45th, London’s 40th, Turkish Cyprus earthquake aid
First WCI parallel event at CSW67, AGIWA tribute to the Queen, Broward scholarships, New England’s 30th, Porto Alegre charities, Korea’s 6th anniversary, Day of the Dead
Interim Directors Caroline Adair Dimmers and Eshrat Demougeot, UN Council and SDGs 4 and 5, AGIWA, Broward, Colorado, Korea, Taipei, Turkish Cyprus sportswomen, Jakarta
Regional Perspectives webinars, orientation for WCI leaders, Broward Night of All Nations, New England giving, Korea’s 5th, Taipei’s 35th, Jakarta, London Lord Mayor’s Show
WCI’s 35th anniversary, WCI presidents 1986–2021, President Linda Anderson, Dr. Jungsook Kim keynote, Marian Adair Spirit Awards, Julie Chien, Marian Adair interview
ECOSOC status, the path to the UN, Broward scholarships, New England, Jakarta’s 70th, Korea, Taipei Orange the World, Turkish Cyprus, Washington online programs
Conference cancelled by COVID-19, first Board meeting on Zoom, theBULLETIN, Jakarta at 70, New England’s $250,000, Porto Alegre food baskets, Washington’s virtual annual meeting, Leadership Webinars
Welcome to Washington’s 60th, remembering Lois Fisher, AGIWA co-founder at 90, Broward Night of All Nations, Porto Alegre hosts the Brazilian meeting, Korea excursions, Jakarta bazaar, Jakarta 2020 conference
Farewell letter from Maria Fernanda Arduino, WCI Education Initiative, Korea’s 2nd anniversary, New England charities, Taipei Exploration Group, Philadelphia Mural Arts, Turkish Cyprus, Broward
President’s letter, New England charity awards, Florida new members tea, Colorado International Women’s Day, Taipei registration luncheon, Turkish Cyprus fundraising, Jakarta’s 68th, London, AGIWA
theLINK magazine
Our magazine since 2001: club news, meeting reports, and women’s lives and traditions across cultures.
Conference program for Washington 2018, our founder Marian Adair, the new clubs in Jakarta, Seoul and Baku, Malala, the WCI Education Initiative, Board meeting in Cyprus 2017
Prague 2016 conference preview and Budapest trip, new clubs: Broward (Fort Lauderdale), Anglo-German International Women’s Association (Hamburg) and International Women of Istanbul, WCI Women Who Make a Difference, President-elect Maria Fernanda Arduino, International Women’s Day, women and the internet
Hamburg 2014 conference preview, Denver 2012 review, Slavica Park award, Board meeting in Istanbul, Executive Committee in Portsmouth, Israel club, our founder’s early life
Denver 2012 conference preview, WCI 25th anniversary, Board meeting in Rome, International Cookbook, Julie Chien, London founders lunch, Turkish Cyprus
Porto Alegre 2010 conference preview, the new Marian Adair Award, Welcome to Washington’s 50th anniversary, Board meeting in Washington 2009, Colorado, New England, Israel, London
San Diego 2008 conference, The Voice of Women, Padmini Durr, Lise McCartney, first Cup of Friendship tea, Board meeting in Shanghai, club news
Marian Wood Adair Fund created, new Welcome to California club, New England’s tenth anniversary, Hamburg interim meeting 2003
Taipei 2002 conference, We Care, Hualien and Taroko, round table findings, Colorado and New England news
September 11 messages between sister clubs, new by-laws, Taipei club profile, Welcome to Washington, the Adair Federal Building
WCI at 15: our early history, Marian Adair, Wessex interim conference 2001, Circle of Friends, Taipei 2002 preview
Webinar recordings
Reflections and press
- This is a November 2017 newsletter article, reported by Vivienne Shen, about a get-together between two Welcome Clubs International groups in Taiwan.
- Welcome to Korea International Club (WKIC), a new sister club, was founded on September 2, 2016, in Seoul, South Korea.
- Its president, Dr. Kim, who is also president of the International Council of Women (ICW), attended the ICW Conference in Taipei from November 12 to 17, 2017, along with 15 other WKIC members.
- Members of Welcome to Taipei International Club (WTIC), led by President Lily Chiu, hosted a welcome dinner at Din Tai Fong, a well-known restaurant in Taiwan, where the guests chatted, sang, and got to know one another.
- The two clubs exchanged gifts, including hand-painted fans made by WTIC member Melody Young, and Dr. Kim thanked the WTIC board for their hospitality.
- The article describes the friendship between the clubs as growing strong, and both groups hope to meet again soon.Made by AI. It may contain mistakes; the page itself is always correct.
WCI Today: conversations with club leaders
“The solidarity of women is needed to transform our societies…”
“The ability to accept and adapt to change and persevere when there is resistance to change…”
“Women clubs are important, as bundled women power is so mighty and positive and can change the world to a better and more peaceful one…”
“Being in a leadership position requires constant interaction with people, and is something that I find very rewarding…”
“Our club's strength is reaching out to children of all ages in need…”
“Appreciate everyone for who they are…”
“The energy in this club is amazing to me…”
“Our strength is having luncheons, that is what we do very well…”
“If I did not find a women's international club in the country I was living in, I started one…”
“Our club's most valuable characteristics are charity and friendship…”
“I like to help people…”
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