First Thursday & Hosting Alerts from IVC Volunteers fluent in Polish needed for Sister City visit by Mayor & others - mid October Homestay Hosts Needed for French Firefighters - December 6th to 11th Look here to see who's coming to First Thursday Join IVC - First Thursdays are free for members
FIRST THURSDAY - October 1st     Join IVC for an evening of citizen diplomacy where you can build your international network, promote Philadelphia and improve the image of the U.S. abroad - all in just two hours! October's First THURSDAY international reception features guests of honor from at least 24 countries, including... Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Colombia, Egypt, Germany, India, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Syria, West Bank, UAE, United Kingdom & Yemen. So do join us this Thursday, October 1st at 5:30 p.m. and welcome our special international guests on several programs, including the State Department's "International Visitor Leadership Program," Philadelphia's Sister Cities Program, IVC's Discover Philadelphia program, featuring Temple Law School, La Salle's MBA Program and St. Joseph's MBA Program... and more! It's free for IVC members, and just $15 for non members.  Email Alan Hatfield or call 215-683-0992 to let him know you'll attend.  Your "job" at First Thursday! 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 friendly citizen diplomacy will create lasting - and positive - impressions of the U.S., Philadelphia - and you. Host guests from abroad?  IVC's guests of the U.S. Department of State and Sister Cities enjoy seeing the personal side of the U.S. through dinner in homes of Americans.  In fact, it's often the most memorable part of their U.S. visit.  If you're interested in hosting one or more people in your home for dinner, contact Matt Drexler for State Department visitors, and Jennifer McGinn for Sister City guests.  Hosting is an enriching experience and a special benefit just for IVC members. Fluent Polish speakers needed for official Sister City visit IVC is looking for volunteers fluent in Polish to serve as interpreters during the October visit by the Mayor, City Council Chairman and Head of Education from our Sister City.  This important group from Torun, Poland are accompanying a group of 28 students and teachers on an exchange with Philadelphia's high schools - Swenson, Lincoln, Northeast and Nazareth. Interpreters are needed for October 17 - 20 and 25 & 26.  Volunteers can email Nancy Gilboy or Jennifer McGinn, or call Jennifer at 215-683-0993.   Homestay Hosts Needed for  French Firefighters December 6 - 11 Fifty French firemen & women will arrive in the U.S. at the beginning of December for training in Philadelphia at Philadelphia's Fire Academy. Most are staying at Chamounix Mansion in Fairmount Park, and seventeen of them have requested host families (or host individuals) for that special American experience.  The firefighters come from throughout France and are in training at the well known National Officer Fire Academy in Philadelphia's Partnership City, Aix-en-Provence. Email Jennifer McGinn or call 215-683-0993 to host!
International programs at First Thursday: Two groups with the State Department's "International Visitor Leadership Program"   The U.S. Government's highest exchange brings two interesting groups to October's First Thursday.  #1.  Meet fifteen women from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria, West Bank and Yemen.  They are on a project designed for women elected officials, academics, journalists, career civil servants in local government and public administration, and NGO representatives. Their U.S. visit examines the important role of women leadership at the local level.  While in Philadelphia they will meet with local women leaders to discuss local election management and volunteerism and community service in the U.S. #2.  Also meet six university rectors from Colombia who will meet with local colleges and universities, including Drexel University, Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania. Sister City Program - Welcome "family" from Douala, Incheon & Nizhny Novgorod DOUALA, Cameroon:  Danielle has returned from her summer at home in Cameroon and is back at Temple working on her M.S. in biology.  She has some new Sister City family to meet, including those from... INCHEON, Korea:  Yeoun Joo is an undergraduate at Gywnedd Mercy College and returns to First Thursday to meet some more nice Philadelphians. NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia:  Welcome back Timur, a young man from NiNo, who's returned to visit his Philadelphia host.  Also from NiNo are two young women, each a musician who performed together in Russia and who reconnected last month in Philadelphia.  Kate has been studying piano at Temple for the past two years, and Marina is a Fulbright who just began her graduate work in jazz violin at the University of the Arts this month.  Marina didn't know where her Fulbright scholarship would take her and was happy when she learned she would be in the same city as her friend.   DISCOVER PHILADELPHIA participants at First Thursday Several years ago IVC created "Discover Philadelphia," a program designed to create positive American experiences for Philadelphia's international graduate students.  Join us on Thursday to be a part of this important effort.  Three schools are represented at October's First Thursday: Temple Law - La Salle MBA - St. Joe's MBA #1.  Joining us are lawyers, judges and prosecutors  who are here getting their American LL.M. degree at Temple University's Beasley School of Law. So far we know that the following countries will be represented: China, Germany, India, Japan, Liberia, Nigeria & the Russian Federation.  #2.  La Salle University's MBA program - Welcome graduate students from China, United Arab Emirates, India, Turkey & the United States.    #3.  St. Joseph's University - Welcome international MBA students from India & Bangladesh. These are the thirteen countries at "press time" that we know will be at the reception - additional countries could be represented.  All of these students will be in Philadelphia for at least a year and this is a great opportunity to develop your international network and welcome them to Philadelphia and the U.S.		First Thursday Details... 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 fill out the form online on the First Thursday page.  IVC is Philadelphia's official host for U.S. Government-sponsored visitors.  IVC promotes mutual understanding among nations through citizen diplomacy. 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 Not an IVC Member yet? Become part of the nation-wide network of citizen diplomats nominated for the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.  It's easy to join!  You'll enjoy ten receptions each year at no cost - plus have the benefit of hosting an established or emerging leader in your home or a restaurant through the U.S. Department of State.  Making friends really does lead to peace. Upper level members are also included at IVC's special Sister City and State Department receptions.   Call Alan Hatfield at 215-683-0992 or go online to join today. What is citizen diplomacy? Citizen Diplomacy is the right  - if not the obligation - of the individual citizen to help shape U.S. international relations - "one handshake at a time." IVC has been involved with citizen diplomacy for 55 years and is part of a national network of 92 Councils that was nominated for the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.