Meet a member – 5 Questions to Connie

The International Women’s Club of Riga is an international group of women offering friendship and supporting local charities.

One of the activities in the club is the Book Club, where you can join friends to discuss your favorite books. This club meets every month. We are very grateful to the organizers of this club, Connie and Gabrielle, and today we would like to introduce Connie Cortright to you.

We are very grateful to Connie for her help. Connie also helps us with organizing the monthly newsletter, writing posts on social media and articles for the website. These are the main sources through which you can find out about women’s club activities, current events and meetings.

IWCR: Connie, you are a IWCR member for a while. How did you find out about the club, and what we do?

Connie: My husband and I have lived in several cities in Europe- Prague, St. Petersburg, and now Riga. In every city that we called home, I have joined the International Women’s Club. A friend of mine told me about IWC when I first moved to Prague in 2017. I first joined the book club there. It was headed up by a very organized woman who gave me tips to set up a book club when I moved to St. Petersburg. I love to read, so it’s a perfect fit.

IWCR: Why do you want to give to our organization? What motivates you to be involved?

Connie: When we moved to a foreign country because of my husband’s job, the hardest part was fitting in and finding friends. I found that IWC organizations helped to solve both problems. IWC members are always helpful when asking a question about how to do this or that in a new city. It’s nice to find others who speak English and can relate to me. So, I find that being involved with the organization also helps me feel useful while at the same time making others feel settled in a new city. Especially during this lockdown event, it’s so necessary to have connections to others, even if it has to be via Zoom meetings.

IWCR: What would you like to share about the community here in your home country?

Connie: I share my experiences about life in Latvia with my friends and relatives back home by writing a blog every week. Riga Review at conniecortright.com tells about life in this great country, historical facts about Riga, places I’m able to visit, or experiences that are different from life in the USA. Riga is such a wonderful city to live in that I’d like to tell the world. Many people haven’t heard about this historical city because Latvia is a small country. Several readers have told me that they enjoy my blog posts about Riga.

IWCR: Would you share with us your favorite experiences in Latvia?

Connie: Last summer we were able to rent a car and explore several Latvian castles. We went north to Sigulda, Cesis, and Turaida castles and south to Jaunpils. I love learning about Latvian history in these places. 

IWCR: Can you share a little bit about yourself? What is your profession, hobbies, what have you done before, your cultural background.

Connie: My husband and I are from the USA. We have four sons and thirteen grandchildren. My husband is a pastor in the Lutheran Church and is currently working with the Latvian Lutheran Church here. I’ve been a pastor’s wife for 40 years so most of my life has been working with the church, also. I worked in a library for several years during that time which furthered my love for books. I love to read Christian historical fiction and also have published two Christian historical novels, “Guide Me Home” and “Lead Me Home” that take place in the USA during the 1920s and 30s. 

Reading books is one of the most important things in our life. Books are an important source of very diverse knowledge. A book can help you in a difficult life situation or give you new ideas. You can find a different world perspective in a book.

Be sure to find time to read books and your life will be more balanced and happy. Visit the book club!

The next meeting will take place on February 23rd in Zoom.

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Meet our members

Thank you Connie for taking the time for this interview, and for your enormous support you give to IWCR. We are very grateful that you support hosting the book club.

The interview was prepared by Elena Tezhe, Coordinator Communications, and Kerstin Steinberg, President of IWCR.

It is very interesting to learn more about our members. If you like to read more.