Citizen diplomacy through tourism? | Democratic Voice of Burma

Citizen diplomacy through tourism? | Democratic Voice of Burma
A good blog on how citizen diplomacy helps in Burma.

Honorary consuls are the attachés of networking - San Jose Mercury News

Honorary consuls are the attachés of networking - San Jose Mercury News Honorary consuls in the U.S. help promote citizen diplomacy, as shown in this article about honorary consuls in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Cultural Exchanges: |

Cultural Exchanges: |
The program for American Exchanges of students promotes citizen diplomacy. We need more of this activity in the U.S.

Virtual diplomacy? - The Setonian - News

Virtual diplomacy? - The Setonian - News

IVLP program story

The BBC News has published as story about the IVLP ability to spot future leaders.

Albuquerque resident wins NCIV award

Bill Yarnall of the Albuquerque Council for International Visitors Receives

NCIV Citizen Diplomat Pillar Award

Will travel to Washington, DC to Accept Award at NCIV 50^th Anniversary Gala

[Albuquerque, NM Feb. 9] – Bill Yarnall, Executive Committee Member, Albuquerque Council for International Visitors (ACIV) received the NCIV Citizen Diplomat Pillar Award from the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) at a special event in Washington, DC on February 16. Yarnall is being recognized for his extraordinary effort and visionary leadership in advancing citizen diplomacy – the concept that individual citizens have the right to help shape U.S. foreign relations “one handshake at a time.”

As part of its 50th Anniversary observance, NCIV is presenting special Citizen Diplomat Awards in four categories: Corporate, Media, Pillar, and Bridge. The Pillar Awards recognize individuals who have contributed significant leadership and support to the NCIV network at the local and national level, and have helped the NCIV network survive and thrive during its first 50 years. The Awards were presented at NCIV’s 50^th Anniversary Gala, a special event emceed by CNN Senior Political Analyst Gloria Borger and attended by more than 600 guests, including NCIV members from across the United States, Members of Congress, the diplomatic corps, representatives from the U.S. Department of State, and citizen diplomats from around the globe.

Yarnall has contributed to the work of ACIV, an NCIV member organization, for many years.

He has been an invaluable member of ACIV since 1992. He has served as 2nd vice president in 1996 and 1997 and as president in 1998. He is currently a member of the Executive Committee. Together with his wife, Carol, he has provided home hospitality for 42 participant groups in the IVLP program. He and Carol hosted and cooked for the annual ACIV Christmas party for the last 14 years. Three Annual Meetings have been held at his home and he has hosted numerous lawn parties and special events. When ACIV has a need and we call on Bill, he always responds positively. Susan Severt, Immediate Past President of ACIV said, “His commitment and passion for international visitors and citizen diplomacy is exhibited every day as he volunteers his time, talent and treasure. It is no exaggeration to say that ACIV enjoys success in great measure because of the contributions of Bill Yarnall.”

Sherry L. Mueller, president of NCIV, said, “A 50^th anniversary is a monumental milestone—a time to pause and reflect on the people and principles that made a half century of accomplishment possible. The NCIV Citizen Diplomat Pillar Awards recognize the far-sighted leaders throughout the country who helped build NCIV into the unparalleled national network that it is today.”

[Yarnall commented: “I feel so privileged to be able to share a dinner with foreign visitors in our home where I tell them about New Mexico and the United States and they share insights about their country. I have made so many friends from around the world through ACIV.”)

Yarnall will also participate in the 2011 NCIV National Meeting, February 17-19, which provides an opportunity to share best practices and strengthen leadership skills in citizen diplomacy and to promote Albuquerque and New Mexico as a destination for emerging leaders from around the world traveling to the United States as guests of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.

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About the Albuquerque Council for International Visitors

ACIV was founded in 1984 and is part of the public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of State to administer the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP). The organization annually provides professional appointments, cultural activities and home hospitality for more than 120 emerging leaders from around the world. Professional programs include topics like civic activism, labor issues, cultural preservation, economic development, community empowerment, and programs for at-risk youth, civil society, and more.

Working with an all-volunteer organization, ACIV promotes citizen diplomacy, the concept that, in a vibrant democracy, the individual has the right, even the responsibility, to help shape U.S. foreign relations, “one handshake at a time.”

ACIV works closely with business leaders, community organizations, educators and other experts in the community to provide exceptional experiences for foreign leaders.

About the National Council for International Visitors

NCIV is a non-profit membership association currently marking 50 years of leadership in citizen diplomacy – the concept that in a vibrant democracy, the individual citizen has the right, even the responsibility, to help shape foreign relations “one handshake at a time.” NCIVs membership includes individuals, program agencies, and more than 90 organizations in communities throughout the United States who design and implement professional programs, provide cultural activities, and offer home hospitality opportunities for foreign leaders and specialists participating in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and other exchange programs. With leadership and training provided by NCIV, member organizations are expert at matching the resources of their communities with the needs of international visitors. Each year the aggregate efforts of NCIV members involve more than 80,000 volunteers. More information is available at www.nciv.org.

Clinton to address NCIV

U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, to attend NCIV's conference touting its 50 years of promoting citizen diplomacy.

Clinton to address NCIV

Sec. of State Hillary Clinton and other State Dept. officials will address the National Council for International Visitors on Feb. 17 during its conference celebrating 50 years of citizen diplomacy. Some of the remarks will be available live online.

Jazz as form of diplomacy?

An interesting post on role of jazz in promoting cultural, political and citizen diplomacy as an image of the U.S. Wonder how relevant jazz is in promoting U.S. values, since the genre is not strong anymore in the U.S.?

NCIV Emerging Leaders

The National Council for International Visitors has selected a group of young, Emerging Leaders in citizen diplomacy. Their bios are here.

Public diplomacy and social media conference

Broadcast Board of Governors will hold an invitation-only event on Capitol Hill to discuss public diplomacy and the role of new social media, according to Mountain Runner blogger. No this would be an interesting event to attend. But, no invite likely to come my way!

State Dept. changing public diplomacy

Matt Armstrong at Mountain Runner talks about the changes in public diplomacy at the State Dept., including the increased use of social media.

IVLP turns 70

An official from Hungary talks about his experience as a member of the International Visitors Leadership Program in 2008. The U.S. Dept. of State celebrates 70 years of the program, which is now run in cooperation with the NGO agency, National Council for International Visitors.
This citizen diplomacy has accomplished much in cementing people-to-people relationships around the globe.

Four Generations of Citizen Diplomacy

NCIV emerging leader

A high school honoree of the National Council for International Visitors and its emerging leaders program. the Statesman Journal recognizes here accomplishments in an article.

Designing Citizen Diplomacy presentation

A recent presentation in PDF that uses social media approach in explaining how to improve citizen diplomacy.

Clinton, technology and citizen diplomacy

Huffington Post blogger credits Hillary Clinton with rapid development and expansion of technology and social media in promoting the diplomatic, public diplomacy and citizen diplomacy objectives of the U.S. Dept. State. Yea, Hillary!

World Chicago and citizen diplomacy luncheon

World Chicago announces its spring luncheon to promote citizen diplomacy. Worth considering.

Ditgital team at State Dept.

A look at what the Digital Outreach team at the U.S. Dept. of State is doing in using social media to promote public di0plomacy.

Indonesian filmmakers visit Pittsburgh

GlobalPittsburg hosts Indonesian filmmakers as part of its citizen diplomacy outreach as part of the International Visitors Leadership Program.

CETUSA and international student visits

The Council for Educational Travel USA brings international students to the USA for short-term visits of up to four months to help foster global understanding and citizen diplomacy. If you want to know more to tor the organization's web page.

US Diplomacy and Iran

An advocate of citizen diplomacy and past visitor to Iran calls for diplomatic negotiations between the US and Iran over the development of Iran's nuclear program.

Brookings lauds Shriver's role

Brookings Institution lauds role of Sargent Shriver in initiating the Peace Corps, and it calls for more effort in public diplomacy and citizen diplomacy. Take a look.

NCIV, emerging leaders, citizen diplomacy, Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi supports emerging leaders to attend National Council for International Visitors conference in February to learn more about citizen diplomacy.

Tunisia, revolution and social media

A blogger analyzes the role of social media in forcing the resignation of the Tunisian president. While, social media is not given as the main organizing method, the blogger seems to indicate that it had a role as traditional media ignored the discontent of the public in Tunisia.

Gopin's Citizen Diplomacy blog

Marc Gopin writes a blog about citizen diplomacy, conflict resolution and religious attempts at peace. Worth following.

Music and citizen diplomacy in Syria

A musician blogs about traveling to Syria as part of an Open Hands initiative in 2010 using music as a tool of citizen diplomacy.

Khruschev, Iowa and citizen diplomacy

A new play, highlighted in a story in the Des Moines Register, shows citizen diplomacy in action when Nikita Khruschev visited a farm in Iowa in 1959. Would love to see it!

Citizen diplomacy staff person

Alliance for Middle East Peace in Washington, D.C., is looking to hire a staff person. Interested?

Global conspiracies

An ABQ blogger tells us about a conference on global conspiracies, UFOs and paranormal activity to be held at Santa Ana Events Center in May. A bit out there for my tastes, but could prove interesting.

Citizen diplomacy to grow

Huffington Post blogger predicts large increase in citizen diplomacy during 2011 as education institutions add information on how to do so.

NCIV award scholarship to David Hines

David Hines has won a scholarship to attend the NCIV annual conference in February in Washington, D.C. to promote citizen diplomacy and emerging leaders.

Public and citizen diplomacy resource list

A professor at George Washington University provides annotated list of published resources that one could use to teach or better understand public diplomacy and citizen diplomacy. Useful!

Battery Dance Company and citizen diplomacy

The Battery Dance Company of NYC has prepared a toolkit showing its activities in what the site calls "public diplomacy" but what I would call citizen diplomacy. The interactive presentation is well worth a look.

New Mexico Roadrunners Travel Club

A New Mexico Roadrunners Travel Club has been formed to encourage international travel. The club meets monthly with presentations of visits to foreign destinations. Hope it encourages citizen diplomacy among its aims. Membership is free, and you may sign up on the web site.

Wikileaks and citizen diplomacy

This author argues that Wikileaks shows the limits of public diplomacy by national entities and what citizen diplomats can learn from public policy in furthering world understanding. Makes sense to me.

Public diplomacy in Iraq

U.S. Embassy in Iraq increasing use of social media as tool of public diplomacy in that nation. It's a good idea.