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I'm an IVC MEMBER and wish to register for the next
First Thursday!
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All NON-MEMBERS wishing to attend IVC's next First Thursday, please register HERE!
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IVC's First Thursday
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 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 helping us make friends for the U.S. - one person at a time.
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| AT FIRST THURSDAY & BEYOND... |
| Who's coming to First Thursday? |
| Sister Cities Program: Cameroon, Korea & Russia |
| More Special Guests: China, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Taiwan & Turkey. |
| PennDiplomats - our new generation of citizen diplomats |
| Join IVC - First Thursdays are free for members |
| Russians eager for ultimate "American Experience" |
| Sign up to attend First Thursday |
| 18th Congress on Women's Health Issues |
| Coming Up & Save the Dates |
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Wow, what a winter! Hopefully, by Thursday the ice and snow will be just a memory. At this week's First Thursday a lot of interesting people from around the world await you.
March's First THURSDAY international reception features guests of honor from
Cameroon, China, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Taiwan & Turkey.
So do join us this Thursday, March 4th at 5:30 p.m. to welcome our special international guests on several programs, including Philadelphia's Sister Cities Program and local universities. It's free for IVC members, and just $15 for non-members. If you don't RSVP it's $20 at the door. 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 will be a friendly evening of citizen diplomacy that will create lasting - and positive - impressions of the U.S., Philadelphia - and you.
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Sister Cities Program "family"
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Every year more students from our Sister Cities are choosing Philadelphia for their undergraduate or graduate degrees, and we're delighted when  they join us at the First Thursdays. This week we will again be joined by our friends - two sisters from Douala, Cameroon, one, who just completed her Masters in Biology at Temple, and the other is getting her MBA at La Salle. From Incheon, Korea, welcome back Yeoun Joo who is an undergraduate at Gywnedd Mercy College and from Nizhny Novgorod is the Fulbright studying jazz violin at University of the Arts and her friend, also from Nizhny, who is studying piano at Temple. |
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Guests from Drexel & Penn
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| Join us in welcoming international students studying at Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania.
From Drexel chat with six international students representing China, Italy, Korea, Russia and Taiwan. They are enrolled in Drexel's GLOBE Pre-MBA Program
From the University of Pennsylvania are nine international students enrolled in Penn's International Business Communication Program (IBCP). They are from France, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia and Spain.
Also from Penn is an LLM candidate from Turkey and three students (two from Israel & one from Greece) pursuing their MBA degree at The Wharton School.
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IVC Special Guest
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Spanish company in Philadelphia!
IVC works with Pennsylvania's Center for Direct Investment, which brings foreign firms to Pennsylvania to establish offices or manufacturing sites. Join us again this month to welcome the representative from Vilau, a company from Spain that recently established an office in Philadelphia.
Vilau-USA helps design museums and historical sites to create attractive spaces using artistic designs with a tasteful touch of technologies. Museums hire Vilau to create messages about their art showcases in new and effective ways that will appeal to a broader public. Learn more about it this Thursday! |
PennDiplomats at First Thursdays
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| PennDiplomats, students at the University of Pennsylvania who share IVC's mission to create positive American experiences, have been joining us at the First Thursdays. Each month they bring international students to the receptions because they know First Thursdays are the best way to meet friendly Americans. Look for them this week and meet the international students they bring! |
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* Not an IVC Member yet?
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| Become part of the nation-wide network of citizen diplomats nominated for the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. 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.
It's easy to join! Just call Alan Hatfield at 215-683-0992 or go online to join today!
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Two Home Stay Hosts still needed for prestigious Russian Interfaith Program March 27th to April 15th
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We need your help! IVC is honored to have been awarded a project as a direct result of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to Russia last October. In just a few weeks we will receive ten participants on an important interfaith training program that will be held in the Philadelphia region and Washington, D.C.
The participants are eager to meet Americans and experience American life, and that's where we need your help. We have placed eight of the ten with home hosts and still need two more friendly home stay hosts!
The participants represent Russian Orthodox, Islamic, Catholic and Buddhist religious and community organizations working to improve interfaith accord, promote multi-ethnic tolerance and expand the role of religious organizations in addressing health care and social issues in the community.
Hosting dates are March 27th - April 15th. Home stay hosts always play an important role by providing participants with a real taste of American life and culture. You will also be invited to participate in the program's professional and cultural activities with your guests.
The Russian participants will have a small per diem for lunches and incidental expenses, a SEPTA or PATCO pass to cover public transportation costs, and U.S. Government-funded medical coverage. Hosts have 24-hour access to IVC staff.
For more information and to get involved, please contact Ann Stauffer, IVC's Executive Vice President and Project Director, at 215.683.0988 or ann.stauffer@phila.gov. |
| First Thursday Details... |
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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.
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Women's Health Issues To Be Addressed in Philadelphia - April 7-10
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The University of Pennsylvania, in partnership with the International Council on Women's Health Issues (ICOWHI), is convening ICOWHI's 18th Congress on women's health issues, titled "Cities and Women's Health: Global Perspectives" on April 7th to the 10th in Philadelphia. Afaf Meleis, who heads the University of Pennsylvania's School of Nursing, is the organization's Council General.
This leading edge, solution-driven conference will establish a dialogue about contemporary issues that women face in cities that impact their health and life experiences. Held every two years, this is the first time in ten years that the conference is being held in the U.S.
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Coming Up - April First Thursday
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Join us on April 1st to welcome Dr. Arun Kumar, the Special Secretary of State for Himachal Pradesh (Western Himalayan Region) in Northern India. He is also the State Head for Tourism, Industry and Civil Aviation. Dr, Kumar is an officer in the prestigious India Administrative Service (IAS) and a scholar who has authored many books on various subjects.
He is in the United States to promote Himachel Pradesh and to share his experience and talk about development growth in the entire Northern Indian Region.
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SAVE THE DATES!
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IVC's Annual Meeting
and Citizen Diplomacy Awards
Join us on Thursday, April 29th at City Hall where we look back on the past year and honor the individuals and organizations who played a major role in advancing our Citizen Diplomacy initiatives.
IVC's Annual International BBQ
is July 22nd
It's the best party of the summer, and will again be held at the air-conditioned College of Physicians, with the always-hilarious S-p-e-e-d Networking, the "I Don't Know Anyone Tables" plus hundreds of interesting people!
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| THANK YOU Fulbright Hosts! |
| This Friday night Citizen Diplomacy is in full swing! That's when 143 Fulbright scholars and students from 68 countries have an authentic American dining experience, compliments of 44 host families. The Fulbrights are in town for the annual Fulbright Enrichment Seminar, and as part of their Philadelphia visit they'll have dinner with friendly Americans - IVC members, of course! Some will enjoy home cooked meals in homes throughout the region, while others explore our great restaurants with their friendly hosts. Our thanks to the 44 individuals and host families who are making Friday night a memorable American experience for the Fulbrights! |
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Make friends. Make contacts. Make peace. ®
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Support IVC's citizen diplomacy work to engage the public in making friends around the world. The best time to make friends is before you need them!
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