The roots of the Taipei International
Women’s Club (TIWC) stretch back 57 years and the club is today one of Taiwan’s
most important all-female organization. Through their volunteer work, both on
their own and in conjunction with local organizations, TIWC members continue to
demonstrate their dedication to sharing the language of community service.
The club’s commitment to public service center on philanthropy and
fundraising, in
supporting the arts and promoting education, and enhancing cultural
understanding both within its membership and in local society.
A noteworthy feature of the TIWC is that
whilst staffed by an executive president and management team, for 52 years it has retained Soong Mayling,
Madame Chiang Kai-Shek as its honorary
president, since the organization was started. Madame Chiang, the first women ever to address a
joint session of the United States Congress, passed away on Oct. 23, 2003 at the
age of 106 years old. She used to provide encouragement and support to club members.
Dorothy Cole (president, 1980-1982), quoting lines from a popular song summed the
TIWC’s chief motivation in her October, 1980 message: “All that you do, do
with your might. Things done by halves are never done right”.
In fact, the TIWC has always taken its inspiration from those
words. Club
philanthropy incorporates providing financial and material means to feed and
clothe the needy, providing education materials for the handicapped and
providing assistance to people needing medical care. Often, it has been necessary
to combine all of these activities in behalf of a single family or individual.
This is a challenge to which the TIWC has successfully risen throughout its more
than half century of existence.
Cultural activities are also at the top of the club’s list of
priorities. The monthly
General Meetings features an interesting speakers. Usually one who talk about
another exciting country or adds some clarity to something more familiar,
through personal experience and research. They are chosen for their expertise
in a certain area that our members want to learn more about. Each month a
different theme is touched. This may be about the history, culture and tourism
in a different country, women’s medical care or a simple as a new technique in
applying make up.
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