What a great 2010-2011 year we’ve had at IWC Midland thus far! From our coffees, to our general meetings, and family activities, we’ve shared a lot of fun and friendship. Participation has been strong and we’ve welcomed many new members.
Our year started off in September as it usually does with the IWC Family Picnic. We had around 100 members, guests and their families join for an enjoyable evening barbequing and socializing at Emerson Park. The kids had a great time playing on the playground, kicking soccer balls, and meeting new friends.
IWC’s monthly General Meetings have focused on a particular country or region this year. We kicked off with Latin America, sampling the food and drink of several countries, and more recently, enjoyed an appearance of Bagpipers at our Northern European night. For French night we shared crepes and other French treats, and even watched a demonstration by a French pastry chef. Members were treated to a Bollywood dance performance in November and had a ball learning some Indian dancing ourselves. We are lucky to have so many diverse members, and it is so much fun to celebrate our different backgrounds and cultures.
Through our interest groups, members have taken part in gatherings of various language coffees, the Gourmet group, and playgroup to name a few. IWC’s Gourmet group has been active as usual, meeting each month to celebrate a different type of cuisine. On a cold winter’s night in January, the theme was Russian but members were also encouraged to bring any other dishes that they enjoy making. The host’s home was filled with warmth, much laughter and excitement and the fragrance from all kinds of food. We had a wonderful turnout and dishes ranged from cabbage rolls and stews to fruits with a brandy sauce. There was a lovely warm apple wine and other drinks which helped to warm our bodies and mellowed our spirits. The cozy atmosphere, sitting together sharing food and recipes, always make these Gourmet Group gatherings evenings to remember.
There have been many special events and outings planned for our members and their significant others as well. Our annual Oktoberfest outing in Bay City in late September was a big success, and in October, we had more than 50 people turn out for the Couple’s Dessert Night. The annual Holiday Dinner and Wine Tasting in February have also been great opportunities to relax with friends new and old.
What does the rest of the year hold? More fun, of course! Stay tuned and watch the upcoming events and calendar for details. If you aren’t currently a member, please join us. You can learn more about what we offer under Activities & Events.
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