I'm new to the club. What do I need to know?

Welcome to the club!  We hope you'll find that the American Women's Club (AWC) is a great place to make new connections, learn new things, and help you with all the tricks for living in Norway.  As a new member, it can be daunting to navigate the AWC's many activities and events, particularly when it feels like you're surrounded by women who look like they've been doing this for a long time.  Below, we've highlighted some areas of our website that will give you an overview of the AWC of Oslo.  Click the various hyperlinks to find out more.  Please note that while this article is public, many of the hyperlinks below are to "members only" articles.  You must first successfully join the AWC and register as a user on the AWC website to access all the resources below.

First, be sure to read about what the AWC is: its history and its function within larger organizations for Americans.  If you're interested in the club's organizational structure, read about the special roles in the club's membership.  Then read about the things we do.  You'll find that there isn't a single week that doesn't have an AWC event taking place.  Even if you are a busy lady -- and truthfully, we all are! -- attendance at AWC events is strictly voluntary.  There are events for the club as a whole, as well as events for groups formed around a common interest.  You determine your level of involvement in the club.

Because the AWC is a fundraising organization as much as a social organization, we do ask that our membership pay annual dues to cover the costs of membership, including newsletters, meeting space, and various group event costs.  Once you have paid your annual dues, you will begin receiving the club's monthly newsletter, the Fjord Flyer, via email.

If you have not already done so, we strongly encourage you to register as a user on the AWC website.  The website is for the most part a "members only" resource, and to access the wealth of information available on the website, you will need to be a registered and logged in user.  The website contains information similar to that in the newsletter, although the two media are by no means identical.  Additionally, the website is updated continually as opposed to monthly.  The website is also the home of the club's events calendar, which has all the club's events posted as well as some events that are of interest to our members, such as those hosted by the U.S. Embassy or other American organizations in Norway.  Be sure to refer to both of AWC publications: the Fjord Flyer newsletter and the website.

One of the great things the AWC offers its members is its English language library.  The collection is always growing and changing as new books are purchased and old books are retired at our Independence Day Picnic book sale.  Get your AWC library card and start checking out books when the library is open.

Oslo is a big city, so our club has volunteers that serve as "neighborhood contacts" for the areas within Oslo.  If you're new to Oslo, moved to a new area of Oslo, or just looking for someone who knows the best nearby pizza place, your neighborhood contact is a good place to start.  We also compile lists of useful resources from the Web on our website.  Even if you've lived in Norway for years, there's new information available all the time in our our website's Resources section.

When you're ready to dive in, join a special interest group that interests you.  Join several!  Come to the next monthly member meeting, meet some friendly faces, listen to a speaker or participate in an activity, and join us for some refreshments and chatter.

Perhaps you'd like to check out some of the services offered by our own club members?  We have a member services directory listing all member-owned businesses, and goods and services offered by our members.

We hope you'll enjoy being a part of the AWC as much as we do.  If you have any questions, get in touch with our Membership Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .