Meeting People








Over the last year, the number of events the club holds has continued to increase giving ever more opportunities to get out there and meet people.
Looking forward to even more events in 2025.
Greetings from your President

Greetings American Family!
If we can’t be with our family back home, at least we have each other. We are a unique family of expats embracing life in Scotland with uncommon grace. Our diverse backgrounds converge with a shared pursuit: finding happiness in our overseas journey. Amidst the challenges of modern times, I hope life has treated you kindly. As we gradually emerge from Winter, let us embrace the promise of Spring, whatever that may look or feel like. Have you taken moments to nurture your own happiness? I sincerely hope so.
How was your holiday season? Whatever you were celebrating—or if you were simply enjoying a well-earned rest—I hope it was a lovely time! The club has already resumed our gatherings, from cozy coffee mornings to lively social events. January has started slow but we are in full swing.
Looking Ahead
As Spring beckons, we anticipate a plethora of exciting events on the horizon. Keep a close watch on our website for updates. We have activities and meetups happening across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Central Scotland, Dundee, St Andrews, Ayr, and beyond. If you’d like to host a coffee morning or a special gathering in your area, let us know—we’d love to come to you!
One of the most anticipated events this year is my upcoming Immersive Regency Event at Birkhill Castle in Cupar on Friday, June 27th to Monday June 30th. Whether you want to help behind the scenes or simply enjoy the magic of the evening, we’d love for you to join us. Visit www.stirlingregencyball.com for details.
Additionally, mark your calendars for our AGM at the Consulate in the coming months. Space is limited, so be sure to register promptly. It’s an excellent opportunity to come together, discuss the club’s future, and celebrate our community’s achievements.
Leadership Transition
As you may know, this year marks a transition in leadership, and I will be stepping down as President. It has been an absolute honor to serve you all, and I look forward to seeing what our next wonderful President brings to the role. If you feel called to step up and lead, please reach out—we would love to hear from you.
A heartfelt thank you to each of you for your unwavering support and contributions to our family and culture. If you need our support, please let us know—we are here for you. I eagerly anticipate our future encounters, whether in casual gatherings or structured activities. Until then, stay well, stay connected, and keep embracing the spirit of our vibrant community.
Remember this: When you truly want to do something, you find a way. When you don’t, you find an excuse. Do what you want and be bold about it!
With warmest regards,
Cynthia Holden
President
Upcoming Events
February
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February Birthday Bash, Thursday 6 Feb 2025
at The Press Bar, The Scotsman Hotel 6 February 2025 @ 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
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Another February Event – Coffee Morning, Edinburgh
at National Museum of Scotland 12 February 2025 @ 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
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AWCCS Glasgow invites you to February Coffee morning.
at Hotel Chocolat 15 February 2025 @ 9:45 AM to 12:00 PM
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Kick-off dinner and chat for Glasgow Book Group and Book Talk with Elly Griffiths
at Waterstones 17 February 2025 @ 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
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Bothy Braw Deal Lunch (Glasgow)
at The Bothy 21 February 2025 @ 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
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And Another February Event – Lunch, Edinburgh
at John Lewis 25 February 2025 @ 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
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Save The Date
Dear Members: See our lengthy list of further upcoming activities available for all our AWCCS members – this is for all our pan Central Scotland, you can go to any activity irrespective of where you live.
Edinburgh Based Glasgow Based Virtual Activities
February:
Thursday 6th, 6-8pm Birthday Bash – The Press Bar at the Scotsman Hotel
Wednesday 12th, 10am – Edinburgh Coffee morning, National Museum
Saturday 15th, 945am – Glasgow coffee morning at Hotel Chocolat, Buchanan Street
Monday 17th, 7pm – Glasgow Book Group, talk by Elly Griffiths at Waterstones, Sauchiehall Street
Thursday 20th – Kahoot, from the comforts of your own home
Friday 21st, 12pm – Glasgow lunch at The Bothy ( West End of Glasgow)
Sunday 23rd. Walking group – location to be confirmed
Tuesday 25th, 12pm – Lunch at John Lewis, Edinburgh
March:
Thursday 13th – International Women’s day to be arranged in Glasgow
Thursday 20th, 6-8pm – Birthday Bash, location to be determined
Friday 21st – Glasgow City Chambers tour – to be arranged
Thursday 27th – Kahoot, from the comforts of your own home
Sunday 30th Walking Group – location to be confirmed
April:
Saturday 5th – Glasgow Coffee morning, location to be confirmed
Govan Parish Church tour – to be confirmed.
May:
Cinco De Mayo event to be arranged in Glasgow.
May Annual General Meeting at US consulate – date pending on approval from the Consulate.
Recent Events


Thanksgiving 2025 Glasgow
Not to be outdone by Edinburgh, Glasgow had a fantastic Thanksgiving kindly hosted by Suzie St. Dennis.
Thanksgiving 2024 Edinburgh
Nancy Lynner
We had a terrific event celebrating Thanksgiving in Edinburgh with a dinner at the Braid Hills Hotel, as organised by Carole Henderson, Kathy McGlew, and me. The turkey, gravy, stuffing, vegetables, and cranberry sauce were delicious. This year we made all the desserts ourselves, and thus ended our feast in Potluck Style. Our Fundraising Silent Auction raised money for both our Scottish Charity—Food train, and our FAWCO charity—Awesome Blossoms. Our new US Consul General Kathryn Porter attended. We had a Thanksgiving Quiz which added to our traditional holiday celebration.
We honored Amanda Drollinger who organized so many important events in 2023-2024 including work on the October 2023 Fawco Region 1 meeting, the Fawco Youth Cultural Volunteer Program, and her ongoing work as Fawco Target Chair.
For 2025 we are looking for a new chairperson to manage any sort of Thanksgiving activities so let me know if you’re interested in volunteering in any way.


Quiz! Charity! Camaraderie!
By Nancy Lynner
January 17,2025 was our first AWCCS Simultaneous Pub Quiz, raising funds for our FAWCO Target Project.
In Glasgow, we met at Shannon Lei’s home. In Edinburgh we met at Ceceley Chambers’ Bowlers Rest Pub. We offered a Zoom Room but everyone chose to participate in person. (Was it Shannon’s Margaritas that drew the crowd?)
The quiz questions were devised by Mary Jo Bone Caselton and me, with input from Shannon Lei, Ellie Fisher, and Pamela Diaz. We had eight categories and a total of 80 possible points.
We broke the attendees into teams, and everyone worked with teammates to come up with answers.
We had a terrific time, and at £5.00 per person, we raised a bit of money for the worthwhile FAWCO Target Project we have supported since 2022—Awesome Blossoms, Nairobi, Kenya. This February is the final month for FAWCO to gather in funds for this project, and should you want to contribute anything further do let one of the AWCCS Board Members know.


Clyde Valley Walk
Members had a great time at the Clyde Valley walk, stopping for some refreshments afterwards.
Club Announcements
AWCCS AGM 2025
Please save the date for the AWCCS 2025 AGM to be held at the US Consulate on Wednesday May 8th from 6-8pm.
The Food Train
The Food Train is the AWCCS chosen charity to support. We can offer the Food Train more than financial support. Volunteers are needed to join the Food Train team with shopping and deliveries for the folk who use the services. What is required you ask? Three mornings a week shopping is completed in Glasgow grocery stores. The food is packed in boxes and loaded to Food Train delivery vans where our volunteer’s delivery to each person who have signed up for the service. There are local branches throughout Scotland. Please see the website for the local branch to you.
https://thefoodtrain.co.uk/
International Women’s Day and You
By Nancy Lynner
March 8—do you have plans? Take a moment and put it into your diary –that is International Women’s Day. Might you call or reach out to a woman you like on that day? Might you read about a woman in history—maybe she is not well known…maybe she should be. I like to think about my women ancestors – 100’s of year ago–whose names I do not know, whose lives are long over, and I send thanks to them…whoever they are, whoever they were.
Do you find value in having a calendar year studded with special named days like this? We can’t avoid it…might as well join in and reflect.
Member News

February
March

Welcome New Members
Edinburgh Book Group
Contact: dka.finlayson@gmail.com
Friday, 21 February
Let The Great World Spin
By Colum McCann
Location TBD
Start time: 10:30
Friday, 21 March
TBD
TBD
Location TBD
Start time: 10:30
FAWCO

Inspiring Women
Out now, the latest issue of Inspiring Women magazine, Women Working With Words Part 2! This follow-up to our May 2024 issue highlights more FAWCO and FAUSA poets, authors, editors, journalists and educators…plus we have an update on FAWCO’s Literacy is our Legacy celebration.
Please share the magazine link with your family and friends and post on your social media feeds, too!


Joy of January: Cooking Kenyan Style FAWCO Target Project Awesome Blossoms Virtual fundraiser
Lauren Mescon, Amanda Drollinger, Sue Stout, Belen Monasterio, and 27 other FAWCO members joined a zoom cooking demonstration for Joy of January: Cooking Kenyan Style on Sunday, January 26. AWCCS members Mary-jo and Hollie Nielsen joined in the call and made donations to the Target Project Awesome Blossoms Safe Spaces. Amanda and Sue lead the cooking demonstration at Sue’s house at lunch time.
With FAWCO members joining us from five different time zones, Lauren was chopping onions, garlic, tomatoes and collards at 7am – not really something anyone wants to smell in the kitchen that early in the day!
With our Let’s Cook Kenyan Style event, we made Ugali and Sukuma Wiki – delicious! If you are southern, collards are in your blood! Enjoy the photos below of some of our dishes.
We also heard a bit about the foods from different regions in Kenya. It was really fun to cook with everyone and to actually taste how what we are doing is impacting the intrepid women in the Mathare Slums!