Young Professional Experiences NCIV Network
By Andre Prado, Intern, International Council of Central Florida
June 2010

As I walked through the halls of the Mayfair Hotel at the NCIV Regional Meeting in Miami, I remember feeling a bit out of place—after all, I was “just an intern.”  I sat down with my fellow interns from the International Council of Central Florida and looked around the first meeting room uneasily.  The very first session we were attending was “The Art of Programming”—something I could certainly learn from, but was I in the right place?  A quick glance around the room revealed an assortment of new faces, most of them much older than mine.  After a brief introduction, we were instructed to create a mock program that consisted of a three-week trip for an International Visitor.  Using only an outline of the trip and some biographical information about the visitor, we were able to construct and design a viable program that held its ground against the more experienced programmers.

2010 NCIV Western Regional Meeting - August 4-6
By Haley Willis, Administrative Assistant, NCIV
June 2010

The second NCIV Regional Meeting of the summer will be hosted by the Montana Center for International Visitors in Bozeman.  Participants in the 2010 NCIV Western Regional meeting (August 4-6) can meet and collaborate with network leaders from around the Western Region and across the country while benefiting from workshop sessions, guest speakers, and home hospitality.

A Word from Washington
June 2010

Dear Colleagues,

Visiting NCIV’s member organizations is always re-energizing and inspiring—recent trips to Pennsylvania only reaffirmed this conclusion.  It is interesting to note that our members in Pennsylvania program well beyond the confines of their respective metropolitan areas.  The International Visitors Council of Philadelphia (IVC) extends its reach into New Jersey and Delaware and GlobalPittsburgh programs throughout Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

NCIV Corporate Partner Spotlight Series
By Chris Bassett, Program Associate, NCIV
June 2010

How Network Members are Coping with State and Local Funding Cuts
By Frank Kasell, Program Associate, NCIV
June 2010

The eternal struggle for nonprofit organizations in challenging financial environments is determining how to maintain the vital, high-quality services they offer to the community as funding sources fade.  NCIV member organizations have not been immune to these challenges in the current economic crisis.  Many community member organizations (CIVs) have traditionally received grants and other funding—anywhere from $500 to more than $250,000—from state and local governments, in addition to any federal money they receive through NCIV-facilitated Community Partnership Grants.  As local governments find themselves in dire financial straits, many have been decreasing or eliminating the funding that they have offered CIVs in the past.

June 2010

NCIV’s interns are an integral part of our organization, partnering with full-time staff on substantive, vital work.  Thanks to generous support from donors, including Larry and Patty Chastang and Ann Valuchek, NCIV is able to recruit exemplary young citizen diplomats to help support the network and advance key initiatives.  This summer, NCIV is fortunate to have three spectacular interns—Katrina Drayton, Brittany Lynk, and John Tsui.

Geneseo International Thanksgiving Fellowship Program (GITFP) Celebrates its 50th Anniversary
By Marcia Helke, President & Programmer, GITFP
May 2010

Centerpieces made of patriotic floral arrangements and international flags, in mugs with the Geneseo International Thanksgiving Fellowship Program (GITFP) logo, symbolized Geneseo welcoming the world at the Sunday, April 25, celebration of GITFP’s 50th Anniversary.  It was held at First Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall in Geneseo, IL, with 93 homestay hosts and special guests attending.

Bruce Buckland and Dean McCormick Return with Railcar Hospitality
By Andrea Otte, Administrative Assistant, NCIV
May 2010

On the evening of Tuesday, April 20, friends and special guests of NCIV gathered at Washington, DC’s Union Station for a reception aboard the Scottish Thistle, a historic private railcar.  Since 1998, Dean McCormick—owner of the Scottish Thistle and past President of the American Association of Private Railcar Owners—and The Honorable Bruce Buckland—Honorary Consul General of Japan, St. Louis, Missouri; former NCIV Board Chair, and Member of NCIV’s Advisory Council and Advocacy Committee—have co-hosted this event, which has become a signature NCIV tradition.  This year’s gathering was particularly special, serving as a keystone among a series of NCIV 50th Anniversary meetings and events.  

By Marc LeBlanc, Intern, NCIV
May 2010

Myriam Desrosiers-Senatus, a consultant on port management for the National Port Authority of Port-au-Prince and the Director of Cooperation and Maritime Affairs for the Maritime Administration of Haiti, came to the United States in August 2009 as a participant in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). In her capacity as a founding member and coordinator of the Institut Haitien pour la Paix (the Haitian Institute for Peace), she participated in an IVLP program on conflict resolution arranged by Phelps Stokes, during which she visited Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; and Little Rock, AR.

A Word from Washington:  Longhorns and Lilacs
May 2010

Dear colleagues,

There are few occasions where a person has the opportunity to sign checks totaling 3.8 million dollars.  Thanks to NCIV’s cooperative agreement with our private-sector partner, the U.S. Department of State, I enjoyed this unique experience recently as I signed Community Partnership Grant checks.  (Stafford did, too, because the NCIV policy, established by our Board, requires two signatures on any check for $2,500 or more.)  Such an experience prompts reflection.