The idea of a club originated in 1992 when some expatriate women decided to start organising activities for the international women in Riga. From this, in April 1995, the unregistered REIGAL (Riga Expatriate Interest Groups and Luncheons) was founded by a group of six dedicated women.

Finally in June 1995, the International Women's Club of Riga (IWCR) was born, by becoming an official NGO (Non Government Organisation) in Latvia. Its membership at the time was at about 20 ladies. They united in an effort to make their life in Riga more rewarding and interesting. They voted in a Constitution and the very first Executive Board.

Today, the Club boasts a membership of approximately 80 women from 20 countries!  The Board meets once per month to discuss IWCR issues and events. Minutes are recorded and members kept informed at monthly luncheons and the IWCR Website.

The Club hosts monthly luncheons at carefully pre-selected restaurants and invites members to attend and bring a guest if they wish. The lunches are nice affairs with deliciously prepared and presented meals. They are well attended and members use the opportunity to interact, socialize and network with each other.

Once a month, the Club holds a Meet & Greet coffee which is yet another method of introducing new and existing members to each other, as well as to the Club’s functions and activities in particular and Riga in general. It is also an excellent opportunity to meet in smaller groups and engage in more convivial discussions.

Open to all Club members is the opportunity to participate in a varied range of activities sponsored by the club such as: cooking,  young mothers,  English conversation, Latvian conversation, German conversation etc.

Membership fees are currently LVL 25 per year for active members and 30 LVL per year for inactive members,  from May to April. Club membership entitles members to reduced lunch fees, participation in club activity groups and discounts at some stores, companies, organisations and restaurants.

The working language of the Club is English, however with approximately 20 countries represented, the languages likely to be heard at any given gathering are many and varied!