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Citizen Diplomacy - Democracy in Action

More than 650 Participate in 2008 NCIV National Meeting in Washington, DC, for Professional Training

by Jason Yarashes, NCIV Staff

All of the pieces of the NCIV network puzzle came together once again for the 2008 National Meeting from February 13-16 at the Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel. A record number of participants, including conference newcomers and network veterans, represented delegations from NCIV community organizations (CIVs), national programming agencies (NPAs), and the U.S. Department of State. A large cast of special guests participated in events built around the theme, "Citizen Diplomacy - Democracy in Action."

The NCIV National Meeting is a yearly professional development and networking assembly sponsored by NCIV and its public-sector partner, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of International Visitors. In addition, NCIV has several generous corporate partners whose steadfast support makes certain conference events possible .

One could feel the aura of citizen diplomacy in the air the entire week, as the conference was preceded by the National Summit on Citizen Diplomacy.  The NCIV National Meeting officially began Wednesday evening with the spirited Global Connections event, where Garth Fagan was presented with NCIV’s highest honor, the NCIV Citizen Diplomat Award. The next day, after remarks by Ambassador Kenton Keith, Chair, NCIV 2008 National Meeting Planning Committee, Larry Chastang, Chair, NCIV Board of Directors, and Sherry Mueller, President, NCIV, and Brad Minnick and Alina Romanowski, Office of International Visitors, U.S. Department of State, at the opening plenary, participants made their way to a host of informative concurrent sessions, that focused on topics ranging from several U.S. Department of State thematic topics to “Beyond the Art: The Advanced Science of Programming” to “Cultural Diplomacy and the Arts."

In addition to these wide-ranging and instructive sessions, participants were treated to an array of signature and special conference events. They dined with diplomats at the Ambassadors Luncheon, interacted with members of Congress and legislative aides during the NCIV Breakfast on the Hill, were enlightened by the perspectives of National Public Radio’s Juan Williams during the Citizen Diplomacy Luncheon, and listened to presentations by Nadwa Al-Dawsari and Dr. Jemilah Mahmood during the IVLP Alumni Luncheon. Thursday's activities concluded with an elegant reception at the U.S. Department of State. Friday at dusk eager participants from around the country adorned in their finest apparel visited one of the ten embassies that hosted receptions and dinners. All of these activities taken together made for an invigorating ambiance and offered inspiration to participants to continue their pursuit of promoting excellence in citizen diplomacy.

Other articles in this issue of the e-Network News offer detailed coverage of the various events and happenings of the 2008 NCIV National Meeting.

PHOTO (l-r): Sharon Rae Durtka, International Institute of Wisconsin, Michael Dixon, Youth Leaders International, Sandy Sterrett, NCIV Board Member, Al Durtka, NCIV Board Member, Jerold Samet, Youth Leaders International, Garth Fagan,
Garth Fagan Dance, and Sherry Mueller, NCIV

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