How does Niwot work? - Part 8

Women's International Niwot Club, or WINC, as it has come to be known, has been active in the Niwot community for 11 years, though it was officially incorporated in 2015 by founder and current president Deborah Read Fowler.

Fowler, a local realtor originally from England, first brought a chapter of the Daughters of the British Empire to town, but after several years of seeing most of the money raised by the non-profit group go to out-of-state causes, Fowler decided to form a more locally-focused group and support local non-profit efforts, while expanding the scope of the organization.

Fowler reports that the organization has continued to grow, in spite of the pandemic, with a current roster of 85 members. "Eighteen to 20 countries are represented," Fowler said, noting that the organization is open to U.S. citizens in addition to women from other countries. "We have three English and three American board members," she said. "You don't have to be international."

"It's just a fun group," she said, noting that many women join after moving here from another country or another state. The group hosts 10 to 15 events each month in normal times, including a book club, trivia night, coffee morning, happy hour, cooking lessons, art gallery outings, hikes and games such as mahjong and euchre. During the pandemic, some of the activities have been held online, but with vaccinations widely available, Fowler is looking forward to resuming many of the stalled activities. "We'll definitely be ramping up again," she said.

Perhaps the best-known activity of the group is the annual Christmas Fayre, traditionally held at the Left Hand Grange in early December. The event brings a wide variety of craft and food vendors to Niwot, with an emphasis on the Christmas holiday season. WINC typically raises $5,000 to $6,000 each year, and members nominate local charities to receive donations.

"After we get nominations, members vote on their top three, and we divide the funds by percentages of votes," Fowler said. "Niwot Children's Park is always a popular choice, along with the Firehouse Museum and the Niwot Historical Society."

Current board members, in addition to Fowler, include Diana Grover (vice-president), Ginnie Bell (secretary), Carole Stern (treasurer), Catherine McHale (membership) and Christine Ross (at large). The club describes itself as "a non-profit social club focused on celebrating the international & diverse heritages of its members while raising money for the community." To join, contact Fowler or McHale through http://www.niwot.com.