Congratulations and Welcome to the New Board of Directors

We are pleased to announce the new Board of Directors for 2016-2017.  We are still looking for a volunteer to be the Treasurer for this Board year.  Any interested members should contact us aerwakin@gmail.com.

President	Chad Polumbo
Vice President	Lauren Kretz
Secretary	Debbie Edney
Treasurer	Vacant
Members at Large	Natalie Farah
	Dolores Ogle Carmel Smalls

AERWA is hiring!

OPEN TO:                    All interested candidates

POSITION:                  General Manager

OPENING DATE:       March 3, 2016

CLOSING DATE:       March 17, 2016

WORK HOURS:         Full-time (40 hours/week)

SALARY:                     Commensurate with experience, up to $500/month plus benefits and allowances

ABOUT THE POSITION

The American Embassy Recreation and Welfare Association (AERWA), a membership organization primarily aimed at employees of the American Embassy and their families, seeks an innovative, dynamic and detail-oriented General Manager to oversee all day-to-day operations, including maintenance of membership lists, providing retail services, overseeing food services, managing fitness and gym services, coordinating equipment rentals, working with local vendors, assisting with the organization, set-up, running, break down and follow-up of community events, and other services needed by AERWA.

BASIC FUNCTIONS OF POSITION

• Responsible for all day-to-day operations of AERWA. 
• Maintains the standards and quality of AERWA services, facilities and member relations.
• Responsible for safety, integrity and maintenance of all assets, buildings, inventory, cash and equipment.
• Reports to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors and acts as the primary liaison between association members and the Board of Directors, as well as a liaison between vendors and the Board.
• Prepares summaries of events, proposals for new programs and events, membership updates, reports on overall operational status for Board meetings, and contributes to the financial reports prepared by the Treasurer.
• Advises Board on compliance with applicable rules and regulations, protocol, finance, and management, including submission of reports required by the Foreign Affairs Manual, financial statements, post profiles, annual certification, Office of Inspector General reports and waivers.
• Develops and implements creative marketing tools and strategies to increase revenue and memberships, and seeks expense-saving measures where possible.

More details about AERWA can be found on its website http://aerwakin.blogspot.com.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

NOTE:  All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.

Education:  Associate degree or higher in business or related field.

Experience:  Two years of progressively responsible administrative or professional experience, ideally in a business or non-profit organization; 18 months of retail store operations experience is highly desirable. 

Language Proficiency:  Level II English and Level II French are required.

Knowledge: Familiarity with creating and implementing a business plan.

Skills and Abilities:  Able to work independently, clear written and oral communication skills, ability to maintain high level of accuracy in duties, and superb interpersonal skills.  Proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Point of Sale software.  Occasional physical labor may be required

TO APPLY

Interested applicants for this position must submit the following or the application will not be considered:

1.     A current resume or curriculum vitae

2.     Any other documentation (e.g., cover letter, essays, certificates, awards, copies of degrees earned) that addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.

3.     Nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, and residency status will be considered in determining successful candidacy.

4.      Submit application via email to aerwakin@gmail.com with the subject line “Application for General Manager.”

Register Now!

November 28, 2015 - Support our Marines Detachment

The Marines are hosting a Mustach Dache on November 28, a 5K run.  AERWA is sponsoring the online payments.  To pay online, click the button below.  For more information, please email AERWA at aerwakin@gmail.com.  Proceeds from the event will be donated to a deserving organization in support of Testicular/Prostate Cancer.

Date: November 28, 2015

Sign-up: Download the sign-up form and deliver to Post One or email to aerwakin@gmail.com.

Pay: $35/adult; $20/child (under 12)

You can pay by cash or check to the Marines at Post One or online through AERWA using the Pay Pal button below.  You do not need a Pay Pal account to make payment through this tool.  

Prices

Adult Only $35.00 USD Child Only $20.00 USD One Adult / One Child $55.00 USD Two Adults / One Child $90.00 USD Two Adults / Two Children $110.00 USD

What you get: Besides a fun and healthy run, adults get a shirt, medal, and bib.  Kids get a medal and a cape.

Don't forget: Wear your best costume and mustache for the event.

What's Happening AERWA!

Welcome to Kinshasa!  With transfer season, it is the perfect time for you to maximize your AERWA benefits.  Join a committee and help make Kinshasa as comfortable and accessible to all within our community.  Coming soon -- AERWA Membership Meeting -- Date to be announced but likely to be in conjunction with a delicious Burger Burn.  Membership meetings are open to members and non-members.

The Board of Directors established a strategy for the coming year.   Join us in the planning of these fun events.

• Chili Cook-off and Brew Fest
• Arts and crafts fair
• A taste of home for the Holidays (Thanksgiving)
• Mardis Gras anyone, Kinshasa style
• Cinco de Mayo
• Independence Day celebration

The Board is also committed to improving the gym facilities; continuing and expanding our fresh fruits and vegetables delivery, lunch delivery, and our logo goods availability; and improving operational oversight to ease the future transition of board members.

AERWA will continue to work with Embassy Management and the Community Liaison Officers and is pleased to also have participation from the Marines in our event planning and coordination.

Together we can make Post the best it can be!  For questions, please email us at aerwakin@gmail.com and we will do our best to respond to your questions.

All-American Celebration

AERWA is pleased to host an All-American Celebration for our Independence Day sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce and in conjunction with the American Embassy's Community Liaison Office and the Marine Detachment.

Date: June 27, 2015
Where: Residence of Ambassador Swan
Time:
     Parade Set-up - 3:00 pm at the entrance to the Residence of USAID Mission Director Putman (see           below for more information)
     Parade Starts - 3:15 pm
     Entrance to Ambassador's residence will open at 3:00 pm
     Doors close for the evening at 6:30 pm
Who: This event is open to all official American personnel and their families, locally employed staff and their families, and American citizens.
Cost: $10 per person age 3 and over (children under age 3 are free)
Entrance fee includes 5 tickets which can be used to purchase food and non-alcoholic beverages (AERWA members receive 10 tickets)
Additional tickets can be purchased for $1 per ticket
Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase, cash only
Pre-register: Click here to pre-register!

Parade Information: Kids and adults come out and display your patriotic spirit.  Participants are encouraged to dress-up and/or decorate their wagon, bike or tricycle to show their American pride (red, white, blue, stars and stripes).  Walkers and riders (non-motorized) are welcome to participate.  Winning ribbons will be awarded to the most spirited participants.

The "fine" print...

Please note the following for ease of entry and your enjoyment at the event.

All guests must show identification at the event.  Official personnel and family members and locally employed staff must show their embassy badge AND present identification with verification of age in order to receive an wristband.  American citizens must present their passport to evidence citizenship.  Guests of American citizens and official personnel must present identification and arrive and be escorted by an American.

Only guests age 21 and older may purchase and consume alcohol during this event.

Announcing AERWA's Board of Directors for 2015-2016

AERWA is delighted to announce the results of our elections for the new Board of Directors. More than half of our eligible members -- U.S. citizens or legal residents in good standing and under U.S. Chief of Mission authority -- cast electronic ballots, easily surpassing our quorum of 30 percent. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote! 

Please meet the new Board of the American Embassy Recreation and Welfare Association, Kinshasa:

President: Kate Maxwell

Vice-President: Kaukab (Koki) Smith

Secretary: Diane Herrera

Treasurer: Heather Khan

Member-at-large: John Kelley

Member-at-large: Christine De Silva

Member-at-large: Jim Gilman

Stay tuned for upcoming announcements. Our next big event is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, an Independence Day celebration organized in collaboration with the CLO Office and the Marines, to be held at the U.S. Ambassador's residence.

As always, AERWA welcomes your feedback and suggestions at aerwakin@gmail.com. We also always welcome volunteers.

BOARD ELECTIONS May 20! 

Send us an email if you're interested in running for a position and we'll get you on the ballot.
Must be a voting AERWA member.

President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and 3 member-at-large positions open!
Three of our board members will return for a second year

Questions?

emails aerwakin@gmail.com