Events

International Women Associates (IWA) sponsors the following special events throughout the year, which are open to the public:

Woman Extraordinaire Begun in 1996, this annual award is presented to a distinguished Chicago-area woman, who has made an outstanding contribution in her field and in the international arena. The 2009 honoree was Tammy Duckworth, who recently nominated by President Obama to be Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Duckworth is the prior director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and an Iraq War veteran whose severe combat wounds cost her both of her legs and damaged her right arm.

Rising Voice of Woman Begun in 2005, this award:

  • Seeks to increase awareness of the work done by women around the world to benefit society  and inspire constructive action
  • The award was established to honor the memory of eight IWA members killed in a bus accident as they were returning from an IWA cultural excursion on October 1, 2003.
  • The 2008 recipient was Molly Melching, founder and Executive Director of Senegal-based Tostan, a non-governmental organization dedicated to community education and empowerment in several African countries.  It is perhaps best known for virtually ending female genital cutting and forced child marriage in the area.
  • Recognizes the desirability and necessity of including women as partners in decision-making endeavors of humankind
  • Helps to increase knowledge of specific opportunities and programs  for support and participation of women within and outside IWA

Annual Gala and Auction This fund-raising event features international entertainment, dining, dancing, and silent and live auctions of items for the home, travel, education, and cultural events.


Online Reservations for IWA Events and Membership Renewals

To register for many of our upcoming, exciting events, click HERE to go to the main IWA Event Registration Page.

Click here to renew your 2010 Resident Membership to IWA.

Click here to renew your 2010 Non-Resident or Consular Corp Membership to IWA. 

 

 

 

 

SAVE THE DATE: RISING VOICE OF WOMAN AWARD ON OCTOBER 14, 2010

IWA is pleased to announce that Ambassador Prudence Bushnell has been selected to receive its 2010 Rising Voice of Woman Award. As the former U.S. Ambassador to Kenya and Guatemala and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Bushnell has been on the front lines of U.S. international policy throughout her 23 years in diplomatic work.  No matter what the challenge, Bushnell responded to each crisis with extraordinary courage, resolve and strength.  Based on her remarkable experience, she will focus her remarks on leadership in times of crisis and in an age of terrorism.

 

Ambassador Bushnell will receive the award and make her address on October 14, 2010 at the Chase Bank Auditorium in Chicago.  The event will begin at 5:30 p.m.  Formal invitations will be sent on in early September.  If you are not an IWA member and would like to receive an invitation, please contact the IWA office at iwa@iwachicago.org or 312.263.1421.