Berlin International Women’s Club e.V.

Two British women – Debra Engler and Sharon Müller – founded the Berlin International Women’s Club (BIWC) in the spring of 1992. Debra and Sharon had coincidentally run into each other in KaDeWe in late 1991.During their conversation, they realized that they had each been nourishing the same thought: Berlin needed an international women’s club with the English language as the basis of communication. Although there was already a plethora of women’s clubs in Berlin, they were all aligned to specific nationalities. Debra and Sharon at once embarked on their self-imposed challenge and then in February 1992 they met with a group of other like-minded women and work began in earnest.

The first social event took place on 2 April 1992 and was attended by about 70 women. Twelve of those present spent the evening officially founding the BIWC, approving the drafted constitution and electing the initial Board. The first Newsletter – today a central organ of our Club – was printed and distributed to members in May 1992.

Five months later, on 2 October 1992 – at what became the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) – 32 members met and passed a resolution to register the Club officially under German club laws (Vereinsrecht).  The fact that this AGM took place in October laid the foundation for the Club’s years initially being based on the academic year:  October to September.  In due course (mid-1997) the German finance department – in connection with BIWC’s charitable status – instructed the Club to change to the calendar year (January to December).

In November 1992, BIWC welcomed its 100th member.  Another high point came on 8 November, when the Club’s guest speaker at the monthly social event was Barbara John – from the Berlin Senate’s department in charge of foreign immigrants – who addressed the issue of violence against foreigners.  Exactly one year later, on 23 November 1993, the guest speaker at the monthly social event was Dr. Hanna-Renate Laurien, former President of the Berlin City Parliament. 
Looking back to these early successes in attracting the support of prominent members of the capital’s public life, we can trace the rapidity with which the city accepted, and endorsed, the BIWC.  The first of the annual end of year (festive season) parties was held in December 1992. 

In February 1993, Sharon Müller’s husband gave BIWC members moral support by granting them the use of a small section of his office in Berlin-Weißensee.  Eight months later the Club’s headquarters moved to Berlin-Tiergarten when Christine Bell, then a BIWC member, graciously provided us a "corner to work in" at her business premises. 

A new milestone was achieved at the beginning of 1996, when the Club moved into its own rented office at Wolfensteindamm in Berlin-Steglitz.  September 2004 was an exceptionally busy month for members as they packed up the Club’s possessions and transferred the BIWC office to premises in the heart of old Berlin at Marienstraße, Berlin-Mitte. 

The first of what was to become the annual summer picnic took place in May 1993.  In fact 1993 was the second year of many "firsts" for the Club.  The first trip beyond Berlin’s borders took BIWC members to Holland to see the tulips and meet with members from The Hague International Women’s Club.  This meeting led to the BIWC becoming affiliated with the International Women’s Association (IWA), which enables BIWC members to participate in the reciprocal IWA Open Door scheme.  Directly connected to the IWA affiliation was the institution of an Associate Membership for BIWC members who move away and yet wish to remain in contact with the Club.

Six of the Special Interest Groups that were founded in 1992 and 1993 are still in existence.  The Special Interest Groups, which meet on a monthly basis, are a direct reflection of the wide-ranging interests and talents within the Club. 
In May 1994 a Welcome Committee was set up.  It decided to divide Berlin’s districts into special groups that eventually became known as Neighbourhood Groups.  What began simply as a way to welcome new members into BIWC has grown into an integral part of the Club for all members.

Our Club motto "Come and Share Our World" was first used for Open Day 1994.
Debra and Sharon – BIWC’s Founding Presidents – were made Honorary Members in the year 2000. 

While our Club has a different meaning for each of us, Carol McNamara’s poem succinctly expresses the very essence of the BIWC.