2009 December Invitation

IVC's First Thursday
& Campaign for Peace & Understanding

Making friends leads to peace. It really is that simple.

Our thanks to Dilworth Paxson LLP for supporting IVC's international relations work again this month, and for and helping us make friends for the U.S. - one person at a time.

In this email...

Support IVC's Campaign for Peace & Understanding

Who's coming to First Thursday?

Join IVC - First Thursdays are free for members

Americans recognized for Balkans Project expertise

PennDiplomats - the new generation of citizen diplomats

FIRST THURSDAY - December 3rd

We hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving weekend and got a start on any holiday shopping you plan to do. This week's First Thursday is our last until February 4, 2010 and we'll miss seeing our friends. So join us this Thursday for another interesting evening where you make a make some new friends while making a difference in how people from abroad feel about the U.S. All in just two hours!

December's First THURSDAY international reception features guests of honor from Cameroon, China, Germany, Guyana, Russia, Singapore, Trinidad & Tobago.

So do join us this Thursday, December 3rd at 5:30 p.m. to welcome our special international guests on several programs, including the State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVC's raison d'etre), Philadelphia's Sister Cities Program, and local universities. It's free for IVC members, and just $15 for non-members. Email Alan Hatfield or call 215-683-0992 to let him know you'll attend.

First Thursday isn't a typical cocktail reception - you have an important assignment! First Thursdays are so popular and friendly because everyone has a role to play and no one ever feels left out. When you pick up your name badge, be sure to get the list with our guests' names, their interests & why they're here. It also tells you what color ribbon they're wearing so you can easily identify them in the crowd. Then walk up, say hello and you'll see how easy it is to start a conversation. We guarantee this friendly citizen diplomacy will create lasting - and positive - impressions of the U.S., Philadelphia - and you.

State Department guests from Trinidad & Tobago

Meet six university officials from Trinidad & Tobago from the University of the West Indies, who are in Philadelphia on the State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program*. They are looking at how universities provide services to students that keep them on campus, and in the city. In Philadelphia they will be meeting with officials from Community College of Philadelphia, Campus Philly, and Drexel University.

* A special thanks to Senator Specter for asking for an increase in visitors and funding on the International Visitor Leadership Program - IVLP. His request to the Senate Approporations Sub-Committee for State Foreign Operations requested funding the IVLP to the level of 5,000 visitors.

Presently there are 57 sitting Heads of State who visited the U.S. earlier in their careers on the IVLP. Current and former government heads now number at 280. Philadelphia's IVC is the official representative for the IVLP in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

Sister Cities Program "family"

Every year more students from our Sister Cities are chosing Philadelphia for their undergraduate or graduate degrees, and we're delighted when they join us at the First Thursdays. This week we will see "family" from Douala, Cameroon (Temple), Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (University of the Arts), and we'll also be joined for the first time by a woman from Tianjin, China (Moore College of Art & Design).

Welcome Students
from Singapore & Germany

Welcome an interesting group of students from the National University of Singapore who are in the U.S. and Philadelphia on an entrepreneurship exchange program. They are working full time at local high-tech start-ups and taking courses at the University of Pennsylvania. Also joining us are two university students from Germany's University of Kehl, both studying Public Administration.

Not an IVC Member yet?

Become part of the nation-wide network of citizen diplomats nominated for the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. It's easy to join! You'll enjoy at least ten receptions each year at no cost - plus be included at private Sister City receptions (upper level members) and have the benefit of hosting an established or emerging leader in your home or at a restaurant through the U.S. Department of State.

IVC's upper-level members are also included at private Sister City and State Department receptions. Call Alan Hatfield at 215-683-0992 or go

online to join today.

Support Peace & Understanding

Abe Lincoln once said, "I destroy my enemies by making them my friends."

Just think how much safer the world would be if half the funds invested in defense were invested in making friends around the world.

For 55 years IVC has been making friends and peace by telling America's story through citizen diplomacy. Help us engage even more citizens in promoting peace and understanding in the special American way that welcomes strangers and sends home friends.

Please invest in our important work with your tax deductible contribution today. You can donate securely online here or send a check to "IVC" at 1515 Arch Street, 12th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102.

Make friends. Make peace.

It really is that simple.

Americans recognized for expertise and travels to the Balkans

At December's First Thursday IVC will recognize Philadelphians who provided expertise for two State Department delegations visiting Philadelphia in 2008 on the program, "Faith and Community - The Balkans." The delegations included 24 religious and community leaders from four religions who work with youth in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia.

Their 3-week training program was administered by IVC in Philadelphia where they looked at interfaith issues and successful strategies. Upon returning home, the participants acknowledged several Americans they had met as important to the success of the program. Eight were then invited to visit Bosnia & Herzegovina on study and consulting visits. Several of the eight will be at First Thursday. The eight include:

- Mustafa Ahmed, Ph.D. - Foundation for Islamic Education
- Reverend Ralph Blanks - African American Interdenominational Ministries
- Jeremy Brochin - University of Pennsylvania Hillel House
- Amy Johnston - City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program
- Marwan Kreidie - Al Aqsa Islamic Society
- Judy Nelson - City of Philadelphia Department of Recreation - Conflict Resolution Theatre
- Officer Maurice Scott - City of Philadelphia Police Department & Police Athletic League
- Carolyn Shank - Friends Select School

Many of these generous Philadelphians will be at First Thursday. Join us and talk to them about their experiences with this important project to build understanding and tolerance.

PennDiplomats at First Thursdays

Last month we introduced a new group, "PennDiplomats" who are students at the University of Pennsylvania who share IVC's mission in creating positive American experiences and improving the U.S. image abroad.

They'll be joining us at the First Thursday receptions (when

at the First Thursday receptions (when exams allow) and introducing others at Penn to IVC and the concept of citizen diplomacy and being internationally involved. In fact, they didn't waste any time and already arranged for ten international Penn students to enjoy an American Thanksgiving with host families!

Welcome PennDiplomats! We look forward to seeing you each month.

First Thursday Details...

We hope you'll join us and others from the Greater Philadelphia area who are interested in citizen diplomacy, making friends and improving the U.S. image abroad.

FIRST THURSDAY @ THE ANNEX:
Philadelphia Courtyard Marriott,
across from City Hall

No Cost for IVC members & new guest

- $15.00 for Non-members*
- $20.00 at the door without a reservation

DATE: First Thursday

TIME: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Annex Grille - Courtyard Marriott - East of City Hall

MORE: Hors d'oeuvres, cash bar & interesting people!

RSVP: to Alan Hatfield, 215.683.0992 or
alan.hatfield@phila.gov or go to our website and the First Thursday form.

IVC is Philadelphia's official host for U.S. Government-sponsored visitors. IVC promotes mutual understanding among nations through citizen diplomacy. IVC's network of 92 IVCs across the U.S. was nominated for the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. A copy of IVC's official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1.800.732.0999.