Don't forget to save Saturday, April 14th, 2007 on your calendar. The International Consular Ball will be held at the Oceans Ballroom of the Georgia Aquarium. It is sure to be a night to remember, with dinner, dancing, our signature silent auction, and an opportunity to meet and honor distinguished members of Atlanta's Consular Corps. Contact Shellie Stuart at 404-832-5560 x 21 regarding sponsorship opportunities.

Vicki Van Der Hoek was disappointed that she could not attend GCIV's "Host the Hosts" dinner profiled in last month's e-newsletter. After all, she was GCIV's top host of 2006! Instead, Vicki would be traveling to Albania at the invitation of one of the very guests she hosted in her home this year. Click here to read about her adventure in Albania and how hosting through GCIV has given her a worldwide network like no other!

GCIV recently hosted six professors and university administrators from around the world through the International Visitor Leadership Program. The delegates representing Bulgaria, Kenya, Oman, Russia, the Slovak Republic, and Uganda came to Atlanta to explore aspects of higher education in the U.S. They were invited by the U.S. Department of State to participate in this program. During their three week stay in the U.S., they also visited Washington, DC, Salt Lake City, Chicago, and Pittsburgh. Click here to read more about their program in Atlanta.

GCIV Trustee Dave Kenney was recently inducted into the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau Hall of Fame. The Atlanta Business Chronicle's "Hospitality Quarterly" section profiled each new inductee. Click here to read the story about Dave, which highlights his career in the hospitality industry, his entrepreneurship, and his advocacy for the rights of the disabled. Dave is owner of the Regency Suites Hotel in midtown and a long-time supporter of GCIV.

December 14, 10:00 AM
IWA December Meeting
The final IWA meeting of 2006 will feature members sharing their memories of Christmas and other winter holidays in their homelands. The December meeting also features the annual bazaar, and each member is asked to bring an item. Contact Emily Bushey at 404-832-5560 x 15 for an invitation.

January/February/March 2007
Great Decisions Foreign Policy Discussion Groups
It's that time of year again - GCIV's Great Decisions discussion groups will start in January, February, and March 2007. Increase your understanding of world affairs through this eight-week series based on a briefing book published annually by the nonpartisan Foreign Policy Association. GCIV presents this series in order to help participants develop an informed opinion on the role the United States plays in world affairs. The topics of discussion for 2007 include: the Middle East, Climate Change, Mexico, Migration, South Africa, War Crimes, Central Asia, and Children. Click here for a list of discussion groups - we will update it as more groups are formed. Contact Ashley Mastin at 404-832-5560 x 13 to find out more information, join an existing group, or to start your own discussion group.

December 2-10, 2006
Festival of Trees
This year's Festival of Trees will feature an expanded International Village with vignettes depicting the holiday season as it would be celebrated in the 23 countries who are exhibiting. Atlanta’s premier holiday event, the festival benefits Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Visitors can stroll through 154,000 square feet of decorated trees, wreaths and decorator vignettes created by the city’s top artists and designers.

GCIV has relocated to the Woodruff Volunteer Center, just a couple of blocks from our old office downtown. Our new contact information is: