In January 2009 GCIV coordinated a professional exchange program through the U.S. State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program for a European Commission official. Mr. Michael Hager is a member of European Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström's cabinet, and is responsible for issues such as regulation, communications strategy, and education policy. Mr. Hager traveled to Georgia in addition to Washington, DC, San Francisco , and Detroit. His professional program was crafted to allow an exchange of ideas with his counterparts in a variety of fields. While in Georgia, Mr. Hager spent time in both Atlanta and Macon, meeting with representatives of Wesleyan College, the Tubman African-American Museum, NewTown Macon, the Macon Bibb County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Macon City Council, and the Emory Vaccine Center. He also attended a GCIV dinner in honor of departing Swiss Consul General Ulrich Hunn, and enjoyed trips to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site and Jimmy Carter Library and Museum. Special thanks to GCIV's Central Georgia Representative Dick George for coordinating Mr. Hager's visit to Macon.

There is still time to participate in the 2009 Great Decisions season! At GCIV the new year always ushers in the new Great Decisions season. We are working with a number of community organizations and neighborhoods to create and sustain discussion groups. You can find the list of discussion groups on the GCIV web site. Additionally, you have the opportunity to attend the GCIV Foreign Policy Lecture Series in Dunwoody, which began January 22nd. We hope that you will participate in the lecture series or a discussion group - it is a fantastic way to keep yourself informed of world affairs.

If you are interested in starting your own Great Decisions group, or joining an existing one, please contact Ashley Mastin at 404-832-5560 x 13. We are also looking for community support for the program - please let us know if you can offer meeting space, if you're willing to help moderate discussions, or if you know of any possible financial support for the program. The series this year offers an exciting array of topics, including:

• US and Rising Powers
• Afghanistan and Pakistan
• Energy and the Global Economy
• The Arctic Age
• Egypt in the 21st Century
• Universal Human Rights?
• Global Food Supply
• Cuba after Castro

If you have not already made May 2009 vacation plans, you might consider a one-week tour to Hungary and the Czech Republic sponsored by the Clayton State University Foundation. The Honorary Consulate of Hungary, Honorary Consul General of the Czech Republic, and the Embassy of Hungary assisted in developing the customized program May 10-16, 2009. Click here to view the tentative itinerary. The total cost of the program is $3,400 (land and air, double occupancy), or $2,500 without airfare. Please contact John Parkerson as soon as possible - a $1,000 deposit is due by mid-February. The tour is open to all adults, whether or not acquainted with Clayton State University.

NCIV President Sherry Mueller recently published an op-ed piece in the Christian Science Monitor entitled, "Public diplomacy begins with you." The piece discusses the need for all Americans to realize their roles as citizen diplomats as we attempt to revive our country's image in the world. Click here to read the full article.

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. You can now pay for your membership online using paypal!

Thursday, February 12th, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
IWA January Meeting
The International Womens Associates will hear a presentation from Ms. Gail Goodwin. She will tell myths and legends of the Miao, Hmong and Dong from southeast Asia and southwest China, and illustrate these stories with images stitched and woven onto textiles. Please contact Ashley Mastin at 404-832-5560 x 13 to receive an invitation.

Friday, February 20th, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
GCIV Global Lunch Forum: Citizen Access to Information in China
Join GCIV and four Chinese journalists and government officials for a lunchtime discussion about access to information in China. The Global Lunch Forum will be at the Regency Suites Hotel in Midtown, 975 West Peachtree Street. You can bring your own lunch at no cost, or order a boxed lunch in advance for $10. Registration is 12:00-12:10, and the Global Lunch Forum begins promptly at 12:10 PM. Space is limited, so you must make a reservation to attend. Contact Ashley Mastin at 404-832-5560 x 13 to RSVP.

Ongoing in February and March 2009
Great Decisions Lecture Series and Discussion Groups
It's that time of year again - GCIV's Great Decisions foreign policy discussion groups will start in January 2009. Increase your understanding of world affairs through this eight-week series based on a briefing book published annually by the nonpartisan Foreign Policy Association. Click here for a list of discussion groups and the annual topics - we will update it as more groups are confirmed. You can also find the lineup for two lecture series based on the Great Decisions topics in Dunwoody and in Carrollton. 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.