Back to the Table of Contents

Letter from the President

by Sherry L. Mueller, Ph.D., NCIV President

Dear Colleagues,

The upcoming Olympic Games are sure to produce colorful pageantry, impressive ceremonies offering cultural contrasts, and the opportunity to learn more about the host nation – in this case, the People’s Republic of China. They remind us of the virtues of channeling international competition to the realm of sports and other peaceful endeavors. Surely in the late 1800s as the newly formed International Olympic Committee (IOC) was planning a revitalization of the ancient Greek festival – though they probably didn’t know it – they had citizen diplomacy in mind. From the first IOC Olympics held in Athens in 1896, which brought together 14 nations and 241 participants, to the anticipated 205 nations and more than 11,000 athletes the 2008 Games promise to bring -- the Olympics have been seen as a celebration of different cultures and common human aspirations.

In a time characterized by limited mobility and primitive communication, the Olympics became an extraordinary opportunity for face to face interaction and a unique chance to gain firsthand knowledge about other cultures. Despite the passage of more than 110 years and the emergence of a globalized world, there is still a compelling need for the genuine learning that occurs as we exchange ideas face to face. The work you do organizing (and engaging in) these encounters for participants in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and other exchanges reflects the spirit of the Olympics.

In mid-July the NCIV Board had its strategic planning retreat in San Francisco. This meeting provided the Board, Brad Minnick, Director, Office of International Visitors (U.S. Department of State) and Carmen Marrero, Chief, Community Relations Branch, valuable chances to interact with NCIV’s member organization – the Institute of International Education/ West Coast Center. It is an impressive operation led so ably by Karen Eisele, Executive Director. Katka Letzing, Lead Program Officer and Marketing Manager does a superb job orchestrating the efforts of 18 volunteer programmers. Our IIE West Coast colleagues not only prepare programs for approximately 1000 IVLP participants a year, they also organize 14 other programs including: the Foreign Fulbright Scholarship Program, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Partnership, and the Global Voices K-12 Program. These programs and others illustrate the fact that many NCIV community based members manage complex portfolios of activities – and do it exceedingly well.

As you watch the Olympics this summer and reflect on their origins, remember that there are many venues for citizen diplomacy. Like the Olympic athletes we are all in the business of sharing the best of our country and its values.

With thanks for all you do to promote – and practice – excellence in citizen diplomacy.

Sherry L. Mueller, Ph.D.

Back to the Table of Contents