I hope that all of our members have had a wonderful summer. I know it seemed to go by too fast for my liking. I am reaching out to the membership to provide an update on the status of the APWA Board of Directors.

Due to a variety of reasons, we now have numerous vacancies that need to be filled in order for the Board to function at the normal level. Although the members that are in their current positions will do what they can to keep the organization going, I feel the membership needs to be aware that we will be limited in our capacity to maintain the standards set by a fully staffed Board, including event planning and fundraising, without additional help.

We desperately need additional members that are able to volunteer some of their time to fill at least a few of the positions below, if not all of them. Being a part of the Board is a great way to meet new ladies, enjoy social opportunities, learn more about the organization and help us keep it going. No previous experience on a Board is needed and we encourage even new members to join the Board as a great way to get involved.

Each role is currently less than a 1 year commitment, running now through May of 2022. The open positions have differing levels of time needed but most offer flexibility. There is a monthly Board Meeting that occurs the 1st Wednesday evening of each month and attendance is offered virtually or in person. The current open positions and a quick description are provided below:

Open Positions:
President - Provide leadership supporting the goals, interests and activities of the membership. Lead the monthly board meetings. (Time needed varies)
Secretary - Responsible for documenting the minutes from the monthly board meetings.  (3-5 hours a month)
Activities - Responsible for coordinating with the activity group leaders to provide updates as needed to the Board.  (4-8 hours a month)
External Affairs - Responsible for managing the public facebook page/instagram/twitter, posting announcements and information as needed.  (4-8 hours a month)
Special Projects - Responsible for planning fundraising opportunities for the non-profit partner.  (Time needed dependent on event(s) planning)
Volunteer Services - Responsible for planning volunteering opportunities for the membership with the non-profit partner, if possible, and other organizations.  (Time needed varies based on # of volunteering opportunities)
Welcome - Responsible for planning opportunities for reaching new members. (Time needed varies based on # of events)

Last year's Board and Activity Leaders did an amazing job ensuring the organization survived the roller coaster ride, adjusting on the fly, and doing our best to make sure our membership had opportunities to stay connected as much as they felt comfortable, both virtually and in person, when possible. As we continue through another year and adjust to the new normal, with ongoing concerns about the pandemic, we are encouraged by the continued interest of our membership to stay connected to the organization.

I hope that one, or many of you, may hear my plea and see if your schedules might allow the ability to volunteer a bit of your time each month and join the Board for this year. Even if you aren't able to commit to a Board role, I encourage you to send me any suggestions you may have on other ways for our membership to stay connected.

If you think there's any chance you might be interested in filling one of the roles above or would like more information, please let me know.

Thank you,

Amanda Dial
APWA Parliamentarian
[email protected]
907-382-0124

APWA has been an important part of my life since moving to Alaska almost four years ago - it's where I found a new book club, looked to when I needed restaurant recommendations, and where to shop for things, and I have made many special friend that I hold dear in my heart.  Most importantly though, it’s been an avenue for me to serve my community, and each year I have been here I have learned to appreciate both APWA and Anchorage even more. Despite a pandemic, last year as President was very fulfilling for me, as the Board worked to fulfill our organization's mission: To Meet, Grow and Give, and I was excited to continue to adapt our organization to meet the needs of our membership in these difficult times.
 
And so it is with great sadness that I have had to make the difficult decision to step down as APWA President this year, due to continuing personal health reasons.
 
Although I am sad for myself, I do see this as an opportunity for growth for the organization and our members. There are many open seats on our Board right now and I hope everyone sees this as a chance for membership that may have previously enjoyed participating in our activities and events to Grow by taking on a new challenge and participating in the leadership. I have every confidence in the people we currently have on the Board - they are competent, bright, enthusiastic and capable people that have already demonstrated their commitment to community service - and know that if just a few people step up our organization can continue to grow and evolve. 
 
I would like to extend my profound gratitude to everyone I have had the pleasure of working with and meeting over the last three years, and hope to continue to see many of you and APWA events and activities in the near future.
 
Warm regards,
Kirsten Tschofen

I am so happy we are finally well into spring and enjoying warmer days, and even some rain to help our growing things. Last weekend I spent some time in my garden (ok, I went to Bells and bought pre-made planters) and have been enjoying watching the hanging baskets I made at last month’s gathering as they start to fill in. I hope each of you are enjoying your start-of summer rituals. 
 
May was a busy month for APWA as we swore in our new Board and Committee members, presented our final check to Chugach Park Fund, and heard an introduction from next year’s non-profit partner Alaska Youth Orchestra. We still have positions open on the Board and Committee and would love to have you join. You don’t need specific experience as we are happy to support anyone grow into their position, and time commitments vary. 
 
A reminder that now is the time to renew your membership if you haven’t already! We are excited now that restrictions have been lifted and we are able to gather in person. Please check out the events planned for June and July listed below and consider joining us if you feel safe. We are happy to also offer a Zoom option to participate for anyone who would prefer so please reach out. 
 
If you have any ideas for events or activities you would like to see over the summer or into the new year we are always happy to hear from you.
 
Cheers,
Kirsten 
President APWA 

I want to take a moment to thank all of our members for their continued support throughout this difficult year. Despite all the restrictions and craziness APWA has been busy: members have participated in Monthly Gatherings, Ladies Nights by the fire, Elf on the Shelf, and gift wrapping for Covenant House. Our activity groups - Book Club, Games Night, Hike and Ski, Bible Study, Walk and Talk, Material Girls, and Golfing - have persevered. Our members and the community have generously supported our fundraising activities like Stretch for Chugach and Flamingo Flocking, to support our non-profit partner Chugach Park Fund. I believe these successes speak to the important role APWA plays in enriching the lives of our members through opportunities to Meet, Grow, and Give. Thank you! 

The last Gathering of the year will be on May 19th from 6:30 to 7:30pm, and I encourage all of you to attend. In order to allow as many of our members to participate as possible we will hold this meeting on Zoom, and will offer the opportunity to order a meal box. We will present our final check to Chugach Park Fund, recognize our outgoing board members, swear in our new members, and hear from next year’s non-profit partner Alaska Youth Orchestra. 

Many of our activity groups will be continuing through the summer, and based on feedback from membership we will also continue offering opportunities to socialize, so look for more details in the monthly Communique, and don’t forget to join the APWA Facebook Group (if you don’t use Facebook just email [email protected] and I will add you to my mailing list). 

As always, we encourage all of our members to consider their own risk and decide on their comfort level before participating in any APWA scheduled activities or events. Open and respectful communication will help everyone feel safe and respected.

As always, I am happy to hear from our members, so please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Warm regards,
Kirsten Tschofen
President

Winter seems to be hanging on this year with a record two feet of snow still on the ground, and temperatures expected to be below 25° this weekend. I for one am ready for this to be over! 

I spent this weekend huddled in cozy blankets and dreaming of warm weather, long days, and the beautiful hanging basket I am going to make at the April Monthly Gathering. Something to look forward to! 

As COVID restrictions ease and more people are vaccinated we hope to be able to offer our members the choice between in person and online events and activities. As an organization we will continue with our commitment to follow the MOA guidelines regarding social distancing, masks, etc, and to monitor these guidelines as they evolve. We encourage all of our members to consider their own risk and decide on their comfort level before participating in any APWA scheduled activities or events. Open and respectful communication will help everyone feel safe and respected.

We have assembled our Nominating Committee and will be reaching out to members that have indicated their interest in serving on the board in their original applications soon. If you want to learn more about the board and the positions available please do reach out! 

We were very happy to have received several very worthy nominations for our non-profit partnership for the 2021-22 year. How lucky are we that there are so many excellent groups doing important work in our community. We are pleased to share with you that Anchorage Youth Orchestra has been selected, and you can read more about their work below. 

As always, I am happy to hear from our members, so please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Warm regards,
Kirsten Tschofen
President

It’s hard to believe we are at the one year anniversary of our first Hunker Down Anchortown order. It was impossible to imagine then that we would still be dealing with COVID one year later. I keep all of the families that have been affected - through illness, job loss, isolation and so much more - in my heart daily, and hope all our members are well. I feel hopeful that things will be getting better soon.

February’s gathering theme was “Galentines Day” - a chance to celebrate all our favorite friends.  The charcuterie box from Coastal Catering was a hit, and a group of us had a lovely evening catching up. I had so much fun I forgot to snap a picture! We hope you consider joining us for our March gathering.

Our first annual Flamingo Flocking Fundraiser was a resounding success. Seventy Flocks came to rest in yards across Anchorage, bringing a little cheer to these long cold winter days. I had the chance to speak with many people about APWA and Chugach Park Fund as I set out the Flocks each night and everyone was thrilled. If you didn’t get the chance to participate this year make sure you mark your calendar for next year, as the Flamingos have assured us that they had such a delightful time they will be back next year! 

It is already the time of year when we start looking towards next fall, and we are putting together our Nominating Committee for the APWA Board of Directors. I encourage anyone interested in joining to just do it. It is very low time commitment, and a chance to learn more about our organization. 

At this month’s Board Meeting we had a lengthy discussion about how to make sure our membership is involved and have a say in decisions. As a part of this we would like to start extending a formal invitation to all Membership to attend any of our Board Meetings. This is a chance to share your thoughts on APWA matters, and learn more about our organization. We meet on the first Wednesday of every month (via Zoom for now), from 6:30 to 9:00pm. If you are interested in joining us just let me know! 

As always, I am happy to hear from our members, so please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Warm regards,
Kirsten Tschofen
President

Greetings and happy February! For many people February is all about the romance of Valentine’s day, or maybe the excitement of making all those cards for your children to exchange with classmates. But for me, it’s all about  Galentine’s Day - the best pretend holiday there is, because it’s an opportunity to celebrate all the amazing women in my life. For the last two years APWA members have played an important part. I am inspired by what a great group of women we are! From our early start supporting new families as they navigated all the things that came along with living in “the last frontier”, to the organization we are now, we have always been focused on providing our members opportunities to meet and form lasting friendships. Visit our website to see a short slide with pictures of some of the wonderful events we have held over the years. 

This month's activity is all about celebrating with our gal friends! Our hostess Alyson has planned an evening gathering featuring Charcuterie boxes from Coastal Catering, and a live Zoom meeting with a few games and the opportunity to reconnect with people we haven’t seen in a long time and welcome some new friends. I am looking forward to seeing all of you!  

Our Flamingo Flocking Fundraiser is well underway and so popular we sold out all our dates before we even started!  We have added 14 new spots, so if you haven’t had the chance to order there is still time.  And what a fun way to cheer up your favorite gal pal! 

As always, I am happy to hear from our members, so please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Warm regards,
Kirsten Tschofen
President

Dear APWA Members,
I hope that each of you had the opportunity to rest, relax and rejuvenate over this holiday season.  I miss our gatherings and look forward to the time (hopefully soon) when we will be able to get together again. 
Even with all the restrictions December brought we had a busy month.  We were happy to start the month with the launching of the Elf on the  (Top) Shelf gift exchange. It was fun to plan what to get for my partner, and a delightful surprise to receive a gift at my front door. I look forward to this becoming an annual tradition. A group of us spent a Sunday afternoon wrapping gifts for the young people at Covenat House - I was especially pleased that since it was moved to Hotel Captain Cook I could bring my kids. Finally, a small group enjoyed the beautiful weather and festive lights at the Zoo.  
January has started with the launch of our new fundraising campaign “Flamingo Flocking”! Don’t miss your chance to get in on the fun and “Flock” your friends and family. Visit our website to choose who and when you would like to Flock.  The flamingos will be migrating to Anchorage on February 1st and then resting in yards for about 24 hours before moving on.  We expect them to stay in the area for all of February. All net proceeds from this event will support our non-profit partner Chugach Park Fund. 
Our monthly gathering for January will be a family skate at Winchester Lagoon on Saturday the 23rd from 1:00 to 3:00pm.  When you arrive make sure you look for the APWA car with the trunk open and some decorations, and stop by for hot chocolate or cider, and some cookie treats. 

Kirsten Tschofen
President