HISTORY
The History of IWAI
Before the establishment of the “International Women’s Association of Izmir” in October 2005, there was already an active Women’s group informally called the “Women’s dinner group”.
Foreign women living in Izmir had been meeting with one another at dinners for several years. In 2004, Beth Ann, the dinner group chairwoman, was due to move to Ankara, and sent out a group email asking who was interested in replacing her in her function. Three ladies responded to her request: Seda Yildiz, Cary Cochrane and Janet Crisler. None of the ladies knew each other, but after their lunch together with Beth Ann, they formed a trio, which would mark the beginning of a new chapter in the organization of social events for International women in Izmir.
The first dinner they organized took place in September 2004, at the Hilton Hotel and 32 women attended. Each member of the newly formed chairing-trio brought a contribution to the team: Janet with her name tags, Seda with her organizational skills and fluent Turkish and Cary with her warm social skills, chatted with everyone.
They were a great combination resulting in the creation of a group that was to become popular and meaningful. Just three months later, at the 2004 December dinner, 92 women celebrated the festive season together.
Due to the rapid increase in numbers, it became apparent that setting up a legal Association was required.
This process started early in 2005 and The International Women’s Association of Izmir was formally established in October 2005.
Since then, IWAI had acquired new members and expanded its activities to include Mum & kids playgroups, charitable activities, and a monthly newsletter, to mention but a few.
The traditional dinners that started it all, still regularly take place along with monthly coffee mornings.
The trio’s views on IWAI’s function:
Janet (middle in photo above): “The IWAI has the potential for becoming a dynamite women’s organization for Izmir”
Seda (right in photo above): “From the beginning until now, we not only had great time in organizing the functions for the IWAI, we also have a wonderful friendship which will continue for the rest of our lives… I am happy to see our IWAI ladies group developing each day…”
Cary (left in photo above): “When the three of us had volunteered to continue the dinner group I couldn’t have imagined how that lunch would change my life. Each month was as exciting as the previous one with both new and established friends joining us. When The Trio inherited the dinner group, Izmir was ready to support an International Women’s Association, those before us had done a wonderful job bringing women together at a monthly dinner, but the time was right to expand the function of this group. That function is quite simple…to look after one another through friendship and understanding; to reach out to those women who are new to Izmir and to help local charities so that collectively we can support those less fortunate than ourselves.”
After the foundation of IWAI as a formal Association, Cary Cochrane was the very first president. Although, Cary and her family relocated to Shanghai in the Summer of 2006, Cary will always be remembered with gratitude and affection by the Internationally minded women of Izmir as one of the driving forces behind IWAI’s foundation.
The Official Founding members
In October 2005 the IWAI became an official association. By Turkish law it was required to name 7 founding members. These were: Janet Crisler, Purlen Denen, Meral Sonmezgil, Wietske Smits, Cynthia van Huet, Anneke Tatas and Cary Cochrane .
The IWAI Board 2009
The Board members in 2009 were:
Stephanie Baker (President)
Silvia Gundevir (Vice President)
Marine Leys (Treasurer)
Isis Battram (Secretary)
Linda Adam (membership secretary)
Colleen Hamilton (Wiz news editor)