This occasion was a combined General Meeting and celebration of 8 March, Women's Day, held in the VIP room at the Pivnica restaurant in Bistrik, and superbly organized by our IWCS Board member Elvira. 40 members attended.

 

We got through our GM business very efficiently. Dinka introduced the agenda. Alisa from 'Žene za žene' spoke of her appreciation of our collaboration with her organization, and especially in relation to our particpation on their 7 March event. Then Gwen and Jenny spoke about our progress in distributing 300 'packets' (each packet consisting of 4 parcels) for destitute families and elderly folks. This project is a collaborative one in partnership with the MIMS supermarkets group.

 

In addition Azra Berberović and her colleague, both specialists in silk painting, arranged a display of their works for sale, in particular beautifully hand-painted scarves

 

Meanwhile we were served magnificently with hors-d'oeuvre of cheeses and vegetables, followed by a main course and dessert. We ate and chatted, and then, like at most good parties, we played an informal version of ‘musical chairs’, moving around to chat to others.

 

The grand finale came when ‘Sevdi Bend’, led by Mustafa Šantić from the renowned Mostar Sevdah Reunion, visited our room to play 'Čudna jada od mostarog grada’ and other sevdalinka. We danced and clapped, and the Bosnians among us led the internationals in the traditional dance.

 

Each guest at the General Meeting received a beautiful red rose, a lovely bookmark and a surprise gift:  a assortment of goodies offered to each lady by our dear member Sally Okanovic from Logo Asian. Logo Asian is moving to Bascarsija, Abadziluk 4 (very near ˝Pigeon square, the street leading to the river).  On top of furniture and silk items they are also selling food and spices from Asia.