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 president@ancpwa.org 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

Dear APWA Members,
I hope you all had a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! Despite restrictions we have had a bustling  Fall of APWA activities and events and I’d like to send a warm thank you to all who helped and attended. December brings us opportunities to find hygge (warmth and companionship) in our beautiful outdoors. Gather around the fire for Warmth and Wine on the 11th, and enjoy the glow of Zoo Lights on the 20th. We are also starting what we hope becomes an annual tradition with Elf on the (Top) Shelf holiday gift exchange. Finally, thank you to our members that gave of their time to wrap gifts for youth living at Covenant House.

We are also excited that nominations for next year’s non-profit partner are now open. There are so many good organizations out there, and supporting our community has been an important part of APWA since our founding.

While you are doing your Holiday shopping, please don’t forget to use the Amazon Smile Program by following this link, or setting your charity to Anchorage Petroleum Women’s Foundation directly in the App. This year we are supporting the Chugach Park Fund, and their efforts to make Chugach Park accessible for everyone to enjoy. 

We have been working this year to update the website - now you can find the monthly message from the President, updates from Chugach Park Fund, and information about our fundraising efforts all on the webpage. Check it out and let us know what you think! 

May each of you find health, happiness, and peace during the holiday season and through the coming year.

Kirsten Tschofen
President

Dear APWA Members,
Once again, it’s the time of the year when we pause to reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for. My family is particularly lucky this year because we get to celebrate twice - once for Canadian Thanksgiving in October, and again at the end of this month.  And even if we are far from family, and are weary of social distancing, there is so much to be thankful for. 

I was so pleased when new member Lisa Houghton reached out to help organize a unique opportunity for our members to hear from Janet Weiss (former president of BP Alaska and APWA member) and Darlene Gates (president of Exxon Mobil) on their perspectives regarding the One Alaska Ballot Measure. It was both educational to learn more about the proposed tax changes, and the effects they would have on the petroleum industry in Alaska, and meaningful to hear from women who play such important roles in the industry. Thank you Lisa, Darlene and Janet!  

We have several fun social events planned for November and December: an online holiday dessert cooking class for our monthly gathering, volunteer gift wrapping for the youth at Covenant House, a special Zoo Lights night for APWA members, and the start of what we hope is a new tradition: Elf on the (Top) Shelf, a gift exchange just for APWA members. We encourage you to check the website regularly for updates on new events.

October was a busy month for our activity groups: Hike & Ski (Mary Jane) has persevered through the new cold weather and is looking forward to the change from hiking to skiing; Walk & Talk (Kirsten) has explored Cuddy Park, Hanshew Track, and Dimond Mall; and Ladies Night (Amanda) hosted a cozy evening of wine and warmth by the glow of a beautiful fire pit. 

Since we aren’t having our usual Activities Fair in person this year, our activities coordinator Lisa has put together a video to highlight our activity groups. Joining an activity group is a great way to meet new people, and make life-long friends. If you are interested in learning more about any of our groups, or maybe starting one of your own, please reach out to Lisa at activities@ancpwa.org. 

Our membership directory will be ready this week.  If you asked for a paper copy look for it in the mail next week, otherwise you will receive a special email with the link. 

I hope for all of our members that each of you are able to find comfort and connection, space to be thankful this month, and that the Anchorage Petroleum Women’s Association can play a role in building your community this year. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families.

Warm regards,
Kirsten Tschofen
President

APWA Members,
As always, I hope this month finds all of our members well. September offered us a spectacular fall and now that the days really are getting shorter and the nights longer it is time to start thinking about how we can stay connected in these colder months.  After living in Denmark for five years I have embraced their notion of "hygge", which means to make things warm and cozy, and also to feel connected to friends and family. For me this means making my home a relaxing place to be, spending time with family (which usually entails the four of us petting our dog and telling him what a good boy he is), and connecting with small groups of friends in person and online. 

I hope that APWA can play a role in finding the hygge in your life this year. We held our first Monthly Gathering in mid-September and enjoyed a delicious meal catered by Middle Way Cafe. The new Walk & Talk group will continue to meet every two weeks as long as we can keep our footing and dress warm enough - do consider joining us! Book club over zoom offers an opportunity for more intimate conversations, and our first Games Night was a chance to meet in a small group and have some fun. Our Ladies Night group ventured out to Suite 100 for dinner and drinks and a good time was had by all. 

For October’s monthly gathering we are pleased to partner with OneAlaska to offer our members and special guests an opportunity to hear about the issues surrounding Ballot Measure 1. We are also pleased to extend a special invitation to new members, to an evening of Wine & Warmth around a beautiful fire pit on Friday, October 23rd. See below for more details.
 
There is one more month left for our Hike for Chugach which ends November 1, 2020.  We are pleased that we are half-way to our fundraising goal, and have more than twenty registrations/donations. Please consider joining, donating and sharing your photos using the tag #hike4chugach. The Hike & Ski group is happy to welcome you on any of their Tuesday hikes, or perhaps Walk & Talk is a little more your pace? Or, if you prefer to hike with your family our Hike & Ski leader Mary Jane has created a wonderful list of Easy and Moderate Hikes in Chugach Park for you to explore. More details about this exciting event can be found on our website, and below. 

As always, I am happy to hear from you at president@ancpwa.org. 

Warm regards,
Kirsten