| Updated: 16-Dec-2003 | IMS News |
| 16 Nov. 2003 |
The
International Military Staff (IMS) Wives' Club Christmas Bazaar
This yearly event has become a favourite in the NATO social calendar. Military wives from 30 nations come together in Christmas good cheer to sell a wide variety of produce from culinary specialities to intricate handcrafted items. The proceeds from the Bazaar are donated to support Belgian charities and, this year, 3 international charities. Each nation has its own stand offering items either made or imported by the women from that nation. The IMS Wives club started up in 1967 and was formed to bring together all the wives of the officers of NATO’s International Military Staff (IMS). It provided an opportunity to make friends within the international community and to develop a “family” feeling within the IMS. In 1968 the IMS Wives Club decided to organise the first NATO Wives’ Bazaar – a rather modest bring-and-buy event – and the profits were devoted to the “Save the Children Fund”. Since then, the Bazaar has developed into a major pre-Christmas fund-raising event, and a means of thanking NATO’s host nation, Belgium, by supporting some of its charities. The IMS Wives Club undertakes many other social activities throughout the year. Its President is Lady Haddacks, whose husband, Vice Admiral Sir Paul Haddacks is the Director of the International Military Staff. The Patrons of the NATO Wives Bazaar are:
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