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Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 May 2013 06:13

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!  

Dear IWCK members,

We need your vote for a proposed change to the IWCK constitution and the selection of the Steering Committee for 2013-12014.

Voting is easy! There are three options:

1- IWCK members can vote at Interest Group meetings.

2- Vote in person at the IWCK office.

3- Download the ballots online and email them to our office coordinator, Galina, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The ballots can be found below.

IWCK LEGAL ADDRESS CHANGE

As this address is part of our constitution, we need your vote to make this change. It is important that you vote on both the “Legal Address Change Ballot” and the “Declaration of Voting” for this form.

Download the Legal Address Change ballot here

Download the Declaration of Voting for Legal Address Change here

STEERING COMMITTEE CANDIDATES FOR 2013-2014

The women selected by the IWCK vote will lead our organization this coming year. Please be a part in selecting them, we need your support. It is important that you vote both on the “IWCK Steering Committee Candidates 2013-2014” as well as the “Declaration of Voting” for this specific form.

Download the IWCK Steering Committee Candidates 2013-2014 voting ballot here.

Download the Declaration of Voting for Steering Committee Election here

MEET OUR STEERING COMMITTEE NOMINEES FOR 2013-2014

PRESIDENT: ANNA VICENTINI

I was born in Rome, Italy in a big traditional family, a few years back I started doing crafts and cooking as a child. At 19 I joined the group Up With People and travelled the world for 1 year singing and dancing, staying with host families and doing all sorts of community involvement work. In 1988, I surrendered to the man of my life and moved to Sicily. I can never stand still and always have to be doing something. That is probably why I have 5 kids -- my husband tried to keep me busy. Nevertheless, I still have to sew, paint, cut wood, and yes: cook. I have been teaching Italian traditional cooking to foreigners for the last 15 years. I have lived in Kiev for 6 years now and I came here knowing 4 languages and feeling so cool about it, and yet realized that it was not what I needed to understand thE culture so I went to a university to learn Russian (or at least tried to). IWCK was very important when I arrived in Kiev and I have enjoyed being with people from all over the world and doing all I can for charity, together with dear friends. All I can really say about myself is: I live my life with enthusiasm!

VICE-PRESIDENT: NADIA MOSANU

My name is Nadia Moșanu and I moved to Kyiv with my husband in December 2011 when he was assigned to the Embassy of Romania in Ukraine. We also have a son who is about to finish his Bachelor’s Degree in the UK. Before leaving Romania, I worked for many years as a PR & Events Manager at the Romanian Cultural Institute in Bucharest where my proudest achievement was setting up a Romanian Language Summer School.

Having been a member of similar clubs in Romania and Malaysia joining IWCK in February 2012 was one of the first things I did in Ukraine. Furthermore, it has given me great pleasure to be Vice-President of this lovely organization since September 2012 as it has offered me the opportunity to co-ordinate fundraising events such as the “Ambassador’s Lunch Series” and the up and coming “IWCK Movie Nights”. In terms of hobbies, travelling and learning new languages are two of my greatest passions. Thus, learning Ukrainian since arriving in Kiev has offered me great joy.

SECRETARY: NEL KORTSMIT

My name is Nel Kortsmit. I have been the secretary of IWCK since June 2011. I am from the Netherlands and am married to Peter. We have three sons, Tim, Rick and Ruben. Tim and Rick are living and working in the USA. Rick married Jasmine last year. Ruben, the youngest, is studying International Business and Economics in the Netherlands. Peter (my husband) and I, moved to Kyiv in 2010 together with our dog Kira, a Samoyed. We left the Netherlands in 1999 and we have since lived in USA, both in Chicago, IL and Minneapolis-St Paul, MN as well as some years in the Southern part of Sweden before we moved to Ukraine. I haven’t had a paying job in many years but I've kept myself busy with a lot of volunteer jobs such as president of the PTA at my kid’s school, Sunday school teacher, church work and now my work for the steering committee in IWCK. I am looking forward to another year working as secretary for the IWCK Steering Committee. I hope to see and meet many of you during the General Meetings or at interest groups.

TREASURER: MICHELE RAFFRAY

My name is Michele Raffray. I am British (and French) and have been in Kiev for 18 months – my husband works for L’Oreal. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics. We have three daughters, one in Singapore, one in London, and one in Johannesburg.

We have been expats for 30 years (since we got married)!! We have lived in France, Indonesia, India, and South Africa. I have been an active member of International Women’s Clubs wherever I have lived and have been on the Board (Steering Committee) as Treasurer (Jakarta and Mumbai) and Newsletter editor (Johannesburg). I enjoy bridge, mah-jongg, walking, tennis and of course coffee! I would be happy to be IWCK Treasurer for another year, if elected.

HEAD OF FUNDRAISING: MARINA MUZYCHENKO

My name is Marina Muzychenko and I'm Ukrainian. Thanks to my family I have been involved with the expat community of Kiev since I was 14 years old. I have a Masters Degree in Financial Law and a Bachelors Degree in Foreign Languages (as a 2nd education) from one of the leading universities in Kiev and Ukraine. Currently I am undergoing MBA and working at banking sector. All these on a par with support from diplomatic community, Steering Committee 2012/2013 and IWCK members helped to make the 20th Charity Bazaar 2012 possible. I will do my best for Bazaar 2013 aiming to remain fulfillment of the main aim of IWCK - raising funds to help women, children, elderly and disabled.

HEAD OF CHARITY: NATALIA MUSTAFINA

My name is Natalia Mustafina. I’m from Russia and have lived in Kyiv for 6 ½ years. I’ve been involved in charitable projects for 20 years, but never on the same scale as I see in IWCK. I’m privileged to be part of such a talented and dedicated group of ladies.

I’m a mother of 5, ages 6-16 (2 boys, 3 girls). My husband is an ex-secretary of Kyiv Lions’ Club and an active member thereof. I feel the need to contribute to help the needy and being a part of IWCK is a perfect opportunity for that.

HEAD OF COMMUNICATION: KATERINA ORLOVA

I come to my candidacy with questions, curiosity, and enthusiasm. I also come to it with a professional background, education, and world view that will set the tone and priorities for my tenure.

As a Head of Communications Position, I will focus on:

- to be responsible for media contact and communication

- to be administrator of the website and produce a weekly digital bulletin.

- coordinate the update and printing of the handbook.

Biography: I was born in Kiev and have lived here most of my life. I have been married and have a 5 year old son. He attends German kindergarten in Kiev.

Interests & Activities: Art, Photography, Travelling, Handmade dolls (http://www.motanka.org).

Education: 2001-2006 Kiev Advertising and Design University. Graphic design, Master's degree

Employment Experience: 2012-2010 Rukotvory (www.rukotvory.com.ua)

- PR Manager. Responsible for collecting project related information from different sources, design and copyrighting, support in updating social media pages of the project. Coordinating organization of folk art exhibitions, carrying out negotiations with artists, journalists, donators, museums and galleries representatives.

HEAD OF INTEREST GROUP: ALISON DIMITRIOU

My name is Alison Dimitriou and I am originally from England but have been living on and off for the past 30 years in Greece as my husband is Greek, and whom I met when we were both students. We have 2 girls, one of whom is a student in the U.K. and the other is working in Athens. We have been in Kiev for around 18 months and have travelled fairly widely in the Balkans with my husbands job. We also did a stint in Saudi Arabia a few years ago.

Since coming to Kiev IWCK has been a life saver for me as it provides a great social network and of course does so much work for charity. I really enjoy the interest groups of IWCK and am an active member of the Mahjong and Bridge groups, the Friday walking group, and of course the Monday morning coffee which gets the week off to a good start. I would be happy to act as Head of Interest Groups for IWCK if I am elected.

HEAD OF HOSPITALITY: FARAH LOECHEL

My name is Farah Loechel. I am German (and Iranian) and married to Andreas. Together with our son Arash we have moved in January 2012 to Kiev coming from Tehran where we had lived for three and half years. By education I am an IT specialist. Before leaving Germany I had been working for many years in various IT and telecommunication companies in Germany and Israel. During our time in Iran I taught Information Technology at the German Embassy School. Since my arrival to Kiev I have truly enjoyed to be part of IWCK where I could benefit from the experience of so many members. Hence, joining IWCK is something I would like to recommend to new comers in Kiev, especially those who like me have difficulty to find a paid job. I am much interested in intercultural exchange and have some experience in this area myself which I would be pleased to share with those interested. I enjoy living in Kiev and to discover the things which are common and different from the places where I have lived before. I will do my very best in my new role as Head of Hospitality and look forward to engaging myself with the help of IWCK in supporting newcomers who are about to move to Kiev or have just arrived.

MEMBER AT LARGE: MARILYN MEHRABIAN

My official name is Siranush Marilyn Mehrabian. I am one of the longest members of IWCK. 15 years ago, like most of our ladies, I followed my expat husband, he leads the biggest constructing company of Ukraine. I also was invited to teach at the National Linguistic University of Ukraine. Then I opened my own business in Kiev. And our stay here lasted so long. I am a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration.

I have always been active in IWCK which means a lot to me. For years I’ve been leading the Art Group, the Travelers Group, the Evening Group, worked in the Steering Committee, assisted in organization of the BAZAARs and was an active part of very many interest groups. I have 3 adult daughters. The oldest one is an international economist and is married and has a son, the medium one is a dentist, my youngest is an architect.

MEMBER OF BOARD OF OVERSEERS #1: RAMONA BARDEN

Hello,

My name is Ramona Barden. I am Romanian, my husband is Australian, we have four children (two with us in Kiev, one in Germany, and one in the US), two labradors, and a guinea pig. We've been in Kiev for seven years now and I've been with IWCK for just as long. I served on IWCK's Steering Committee three times, once as Head of Charity and twice as Supervisor (Member of the Board of Overseers). I am mostly involved in the charity side of IWCK, including the Bazaar, as its fundraising arm. I am an Economist by education - I graduated from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest and then got my MBA from INSEAD (France). I worked as a Tax Consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers (Bucharest) and as an Analyst for the Ministry of European Integration (Bucharest). I stopped paid work when we arrived in Kiev and happily embraced the rewarding career of mother, wife, housewife, and charity volunteer. I am one of the candidates for Supervisor position on the 2014 Steering Committee.

MEMBER OF BOARD OF OVERSEERS #2: ISABELLE PIGEON

I am French, 51 years old, I have a French husband and three daughters (23,19 and 15 years old).

I met my husband in France and shortly after, in 1988 we left to Ivory Coast where my first daughter was born. Since then we have never stopped travelling and have lived in Portugal, Greece (where my second daughter was born), Belgium (where my third daughter was born), Tunisia, France, Lebanon, Bahrain, Japan, and Jordan. We arrived in Ukraine in January 2013. I have always been very involved in women's clubs at different positions, from cultural visits organizer to president. As we have the chance in Kiev to have IWCK and Kiev Accueil, I would try to consolidate the communication links between them in participating at the Steering Committee.