Marc Quintyn

President

I moved to the Washington DC area with my family in 1989, when I accepted a job at the IMF. I am happy and proud to be one of the "founding members" of VIW-WFC when we decided in 1994 to "resurrect" the club. Since then I have been spending a great deal of my spare time for the club, just because I love to do it and believe in its usefulness. As a board member, you can say that I "climbed the ranks," starting as member at large, followed by some 10 years as the treasurer and since 2007, the president. My objectives are to provide social and cultural entertainment for the Flemish community in the greater Washington DC area and for all those who have an interest in our community. I am extremely pleased that our efforts are being received so well by our membership. In my "other" spare time, I like to bike with friends, do other sports, and read or undertake economic research.

Mieke Ghesquiere

Treasurer

Forty years in the Washington area has moved me up to the rank of senior citizen. I obviously focus on the interests of this demographic group but I delight in the growing numbers of young families that join the WFC. I am often called “Mother Superior” and I love it.
As treasurer of WFC-VIW, I can assure you that I manage our account and your membership money much better than some investment banks and mortgage companies. We strive to offer our members interesting cultural and social activities at bargain prices thanks to the volunteer input of everybody on the board.

Koen Vanwinckel

Koen left Belgium in 1992 to start an overseas telecom career with Alcatel-Lucent. He settled in Northern Virginia (Reston, VA) in early 2000 after long-term assignments in Singapore and shorter stays in Norway, Germany and Brazil. He joined the VIW-WFC Committee in 2004 as "young blood" to focus on database administration, distribution of emails and family-specific activities (f.i. Saint-Nicholas event).Koen enjoys discovering new places, outdoors activities (bicycling, hiking, sailing, snowboarding, ...) and - most importantly - good times with family and friends.

Luce De Peuter

Together with my husband, Albert Tejano and our three kids we moved to the Washington DC area a few decades ago. Before that, I worked for 10 years in Manila. During all of these years, I worked at the Belgian Embassy. As a VIW-WFC board member for many years, I am in a good position to be the liaison between VIW-WFC on the one hand, and the Belgian diplomatic community here in DC on the other. I really enjoy serving as a board member.

Helga Verbruggen

A career opportunity originally brought me to the US. I ended up staying and starting an American family, moving from California to Texas, and calling DC home starting in 2007. I discovered WFC a few years later, and in 2013 the board invited me to join them. It probably helped that my husband volunteered for grilling duty at that summer's annual WFC barbecue and had everyone licking their fingers afterwards! Not much of a chef myself, I instead enjoy helping organize a variety of activities, with a special preference for hikes and anything to do with arts and culture. WFC has an important place on my family’s social calendar. It helps me keep my Flemish roots alive, and gives my husband and daughter a window into the international community in DC.

Hanne Caers

While honeymooning in 2012 on the East Coast of the US, my husband Sven and I dreamt of moving to the DC area one day.
Two years later, in a happy coincidence, Sven was offered the opportunity to work in the US. We settled in Rockville, where I soon came into contact with the VIW-WFC.
I joined the board in 2016, where I try to fill the shoes of my predecessor Veronique Vercammen as best I can. I aim to bring my youthful enthusiasm to the board and the every-day workings of the VIW-WFC.
In these past years, I have helped wherever possible, both in organizing events and in helping cater the notorious barbecue and New Year’s reception.
In everyday life in the States, I enjoy travelling with my husband – we aim to visit all fifty states while we’re here. When at home, I like to spend my spare time being creative.

Pat Boydens

While still living in Belgium with my three children in 2003, I met Marc Quintyn. He became the reason why I traveled to the Washington DC area many times in the following years. On those occasions I also had the opportunity to take part in some of the VIW activities, where I had the pleasure of meeting many Flemish people. In 2009, the year I married Marc, I moved to McLean. 

Soon I was asked to join the group of Dutch class teachers at the Belgian Embassy. Having worked for almost 30 years as a psychomotor therapist in a school for special education in Belgium, it was quite a challenge to bring myself up to the professional level of a Dutch teacher for speakers of other languages. But I enjoyed it very much and for the next 9 years, I was a Dutch teacher in several language schools in the DC area. I love the outdoors, be it for hiking, biking or gardening. Knitting, sewing and being creative are also among my favorite activities.

Being the spouse of the president of the Flemish Club, my contribution (let’s say in the background) to many activities was always guaranteed. However, in the fall of 2018, I was asked to officially become a member of the Kern. With pleasure I will be part of the ‘think tank’ and a helping hand with the organization of a variety of fun events and pleasant gatherings of the Flemish Club.

Sven Slootmans

Veronique Vercammen

Hilde Pinto Leclercq

I am from Leuven, but now reside in Harpers Ferry, WV with my husband where we have lived now for many years.
While I lived in Belgium I worked in Health Care as a Physical and Respiratory Therapist at the University Hospital in Leuven for 25 years, and during my free time I was active in arts and crafts. I am currently a teacher and in my spare time I enjoy creating and making jewelry.
I had the good fortune to come in contact with the VIW-WFC, which, for me, is a great way to stay in touch with my Belgium roots and culture. In 2016 I was invited to join the board. It gives me great pleasure to help organize cultural and family events, and also provides me the opportunity to use my artistic skills.