News Releases and Articles
THIS Viennese Waltz Ball
December 16, 2007
The Washington Diplomat, February 2008, Volume 15, Number 2
From left, Evening in Vienna Waltz Ball Committee co-chair Joan Keston, Hugh Grindstaff, daughter of the Japanese ambassador Kazuyo Kato, Ambassador of Austria Eva Nowotny, wife of the Japanese ambassador Hanayo Kato - who herself was a debutante while attending the Vienna International School in Austria - professor Thomas Nowotny, Laura Mariko Schmitz, Tazuko Schmitz, Ambassador of Japan Ryozo Kato, and Charles Schmitz attend the Viennese Waltz Ball held at the Meridian International Center.
Bonita L Williams, New THIS President
May 17, 2007
Biography
President | The Hospitality and Information Service 2007-2008
Bonita (Bonnie) Williams was born and raised in Banff, Alberta, Canada. With her husband Don, an Air Force General and fighter pilot, they moved twenty-four times for tours of duty that included Norway, Germany, and the United States. Don was the Defense Attaché at the Canadian Embassy in Washington from 1994 to 1996.
Service to the community has been a focus of Bonnie’s adult life. Educated in Canada, Bonnie was an elected school board trustee in Alberta. She served as President of the Officers’ Wives Association and was the national representative for a NATO women’s organization, including chairing a committee for a Norwegian charity. She was a chair of the hosting organization for the World Ladies Curling Competition in the province of Saskatchewan, and served as President of the Provincial Women’s Curling Association. She was responsible for developing several welcome programs for military communities. From 2004 to 2006 she served as President of the Manor Women’s Golf Association. Professionally she is a certified Personal Image Consultant.
As the wife of a Canadian diplomat, Bonnie was introduced to THIS when she was personally welcomed to Washington, DC by a THIS volunteer. This welcome and Bonnie's subsequent participation in the organization made a lasting impression. In 1996, her husband Don retired from 37 years of military service and they settled in Rockville, MD close to Don’s work with BAE Systems. Bonnie became a THIS volunteer, an American citizen, and served on the on the Executive Committee in a number of leadership positions.
Bonnie loves to read, play golf, tennis, bridge and travel to Calgary, Alberta to be with her two sons, their families, and her three grandchildren.
