Please mark your calendars for this year’s International Consular Ball, which will take place on April 14th in the Oceans Ballroom of the Georgia Aquarium. The International Consular Ball honors the Atlanta Consular Corps for its efforts in furthering international relations in Atlanta and the southeastern United States. Now in its 26th year, this is Atlanta’s premier international celebration and networking event—you won’t want to miss it!

Please contact Shell Stuart at 404-832-5560 x 21 for 2007 sponsorship information. The opportunity to be the presenting sponsor is still available!

GCIV hosted Mr. Asad Ahmad in Atlanta December 17-20, 2006. Mr. Ahmad is an anchor for BBC London, reporting on issues around the capital and for the national news during elections and key dates in the year. He came to Atlanta to meet with counterparts in the U.S. broadcast television news field, learn more about the American civil rights movement, and interact with leaders of programs which promote racial, ethnic, and religious tolerance. Click here to read more about his program in Atlanta.

GCIV's Great Decisions discussion groups begin in January around the state. 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.

GCIV and the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia are collaborating to offer you their Travel the World program. WAC Philadelphia has been coordinating this program since 1977. Programs traditionally offer all the highlights of touring plus access to political leaders and other local experts who give behind the scenes views and briefings that make the trips special and unique. Because of its reputation as one of the nation's leading forums, WACP has established connections around the globe that allow them to offer access that one can't get when traveling alone or on other tours. Trips planned for 2007 include Arabian Nights, the Dalmation Coast, Treasures of Southern Africa, and more! Click here to learn more about the program. Contact Ashley Mastin at 404-832-5560 x 13 with any questions.

GCIV Trustee Dr. Augustine Esobgue was named a recipient of the Nigerian National Order of Merit for 2006. Dr. Esogbue is a distinguished scholar in System Engineering who has made valuable contributions in the development and application of dynamic programming and fuzzy logic in systems such as water resources, biomedical engineering and healthcare. The Nigerian National Merit Award was established in 1979 and is the highest honour for intellectual achievement in the Nigerian State. The award has only been bestowed upon fifty deserving Nigerians thus far. The investiture ceremonies were performed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in December 2006 at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Dawn appears exactly the same way every place in the world, but eating patterns and customs around the world may vary as much as the weather. Americans seem to breeze through light lunches, preferring instead to linger at the dinner table over a large meal in the evening. For most overseas residents, the main meal of the day is served at midday, not in the evening. Keep in mind that “midday” does not necessarily mean “noon.” In Mexico, for example, the midday meal begins at, say, 1:30PM or later and can last until 3:30 or so. The considerate host will ask when the guest normally has his or her midday meal. To read more, click here.

Reproduced from the book DO’s and TABOO’s of Hosting International Visitors by Roger E. Axtell.

GCIV's membership is critical to the success of our organization, as it serves as an important indicator of community support for the U.S. Department of State and other agencies that rely on us to arrange programs for hundreds of international visitors each year. Becoming a member is easy - just visit our membership page to download an application.

Thursday, January 11, 10:00 AM
IWA January Meeting
The International Women's Associates will have a presentation from Ms. Sally Gable, who has written a book about her family's experiences owning a Palladian villa in the Veneto region of Italy. Please contact Emily Bushey at 404-832-5560 x 15 in order to receive an invitation.

Tuesday, January 16, 6:30 PM
International Dining Experience at Taverna Plaka
Get to know other GCIV members and hosts and share your questions, experiences and insights about hosting international visitors in your home. We are also inviting the delegations from Italy and Germany to join us. The family-style chef's menu is $25, and includes appetizers, main course, a non-alcoholic drink, tax, and gratuity. Contact Ashley Mastin at 404-832-5560 x 13 for more information or to RSVP. Please be sure to mention any dietary restrictions.