This last year we made a lot of changes to modernize and bring our club into the future. We did a lot of public outreach and met a lot of new friends, increasing membership towards the end of the year by 30%.  We restructured our budget and slashed membership dues.  We updated our website and even added a blog!  But the biggest, and most difficult change was taking Currents to a digital format.  We owe Cat, Allie, and Jana a huge debt of gratitude.  They have done a marvelous job doing the work to make these changes happen.  Sometimes it was difficult and sometimes it was painful, but in the end I think it was worth it.  Our digital Currents looks wonderful!
 
On to 2014! I am very much looking forward to 2014, and I wanted to share with you some of the things in planning stages that we have to look forward to this year.  First of all, our AGM is coming up in early February.  We have a lot of information and some new ideas to discuss with you, so please try to make it!  We will be sending an invitation out next week. Regina is planning another New Members Event in March, and I have heard rumors it will be at the Coco Chanel exhibition, so come out to meet our newbies!  Our dance workshop last year was so successful, I thought it would be nice to offer a few more active events.  Marinell and Ulrike have done some research into a self-defense course that we would like to organize and also an informational evening about home and personal protection.  David Opperman, who is our local American CPA, has agreed (ok I may have coerced him a bit) to do an informal Q&A about how to get caught up on your US taxes.  We are also beginning to plan the FAWCO Region 5 Conference, which will be in November, and we need helpers on the planning committee, so please contact me if you are interested!
 
I look forward to seeing you soon, and look forward to a successful fun year!  
 
Cheers, Shawn Klug