Iowa Council for International Understanding 929 3rd Street, Suite 202 Des Moines, IA 50309 515.282.8269 515.282.0454 fax Upcoming Events Pioneer-ICIU International Dialogue Series (12:00-1:00 pm) Downtown Des Moines Public Library, 1000 Grand Avenue January 4, 2011: Young & Middle Class in China; The Post-80’s Generation Comes of Age Associate Professor Darcie Vandegrift– Drake University February 1, 2011: Democracy in the Middle East; A Future Reality or a Mirage? Associate Professor Mahmoud Hamad– Drake University International Visitor Program Arrivals February 9th-12th: Six Canadian experts learning more about climate change. A home hospitality opportunity is available February 10 February 10-15: Six visitors from Europe to learn about U.S. Foreign Policy and Food Security. Home hospitality opportunities available February12 and 13 February 16-19: NCIV National Conference Celebrates 50 Years of Service Passport to Prosperity; A Celebration of Iowa’s Immigrants and Refugees Saturday, September 17, 2011 Olmsted Center, Drake University Quarterly Newsletter on International Understanding ICIU Diplomat Follow Us Coming Soon... ABOUT ICIU ICIU’s programs and ser- vices seek to achieve its mission of “building cultural respect, at home and around the world, one per- son at a time,” through four general program areas: Interpretation & Translation Services As Iowa’s premier interpre- tation and translation service, ICIU boasts over 100 experienced language experts in 49 languages. Iowa Global Connect Iowa Global Connect is Iowa’s centralized multilin- gual access point for individuals and entities to Iowa’s international resources. International Visitor Programs ICIU brings over 150 visi- tors to Iowa every year primarily through two government programs, Community Connec- tions and the International Visitor Leadership Program. Education programs ICIU offers educational programs that connect people and ideas in the community, educating Iowans on international issues and fostering student leadership. ICIU Announces Sehgal Family Foundation Grant ICIU is delighted to announce the establishment of the Sehgal Family Foundation Center for In- ternational Visitors. Thanks to a three-year grant totaling $30,000 from the Sehgal Family Foundation, the Iowa Council for International Understanding (ICIU) will establish a Center for International Visitors that will support ICIU’s commitment to connecting emerging leaders from around the world with Iowans through a series of receptions and learning opportunities. The Cen- ter will enable Iowans to build new partnerships on a professional level, develop new friendships on a personal level and create new learning op- portunities on an educational level. Working with the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), ICIU is one of 92 Councils for International Visi- tors in the United States which officially sponsor visits from thousands of international leaders to their communities. Each year, over 100 of these visitors come to Des Moines. These exchanges benefit both the visitors and the Iowans with whom they confer. Leaders like former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, French President Nicholas Sarkozy and former British Prime Min- ister Gordon Brown were participants in this in- ternational visitors program. Last year, ICIU hosted a wide variety of leaders from Germany, Portugal, Morocco, China, Indo- nesia, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Sweden, Italy, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Finland, Kazakhstan, and more. Leaders selected to travel to Des Moines enjoy professional program- ming on topics such as food safety and public health, the U.S. electoral system, intellectual prop- erty rights, biotechnology regulations, veterinary practices, and agribusiness. IVLP generates almost $1 million annually in revenue for the state of Iowa. Thanks to the Sehgal Center for International Visi- tors, Iowans can look forward to more opportuni- ties to meet the world’s current and up-and-coming leaders, such as members of Parliament, top journal- ists and editors, heads of research programs in en- ergy and food safety and executives of multinational corporations. We celebrate this new Center at ICIU at the same time we are celebrating the National Council for International Visitors 50th Anniversary at the 2011 National Meeting in Washington D.C. The meet- ing’s theme this celebratory year is “NCIV’s Next Half Century: Citizen Diplomats Shaping History.” For more information on the 50 th Anniversary Gala on February 16 th , 2011, with Mistress of Ceremo- nies Gloria Borger, Senior Political Analyst for CNN, email Ashlee Stoddard, International Visitors Manager at [email protected]. this issue Sehgal Family Grant Announced P.1 2010 in Review P.2 International Dialogue Series P.3 Zakery’s Bridge Book Launch P.5 Interpreters & Translators Workshops P.7 Upcoming Events P.8 ISSUE Winter 2010 Diplomat Winter 2010 Issue The ICIU Staff Dr. Judith Conlin Executive Director Gale Brubaker Senior Program Manager: Finance, Grants & Marketing Stephanie Hingtgen International Language Manager Ashlee Stoddard International Programs Manager & Volunteer/Intern Coordinator Working since 1938 to build cultural respect at home and around the world, one person at a time. Throughout the organization's history, the many volunteers who provided lead- ership and time to the organization al- ways believed the Council should be dedicated to international understanding between Iowans and the rest of the world. To this end, the Council currently administers a variety of programs which aim to connect Iowans with people, ideas and cultures from around the world. Major Program Areas: Educational Programs International Visitors Interpretation & Translation Iowa Global Connect 72 Years of International Understanding 72 Years of International Understanding 1 8
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Iowa Council for International
Understanding
929 3rd Street, Suite 202
Des Moines, IA 50309
515.282.8269
515.282.0454 fax
Upcoming Events Pioneer-ICIU International Dialogue Series (12:00-1:00 pm)
Downtown Des Moines Public Library, 1000 Grand Avenue
January 4, 2011: Young & Middle Class in China; The Post-80’s Generation
Comes of Age
Associate Professor Darcie Vandegrift– Drake University
February 1, 2011: Democracy in the Middle East; A Future Reality or a Mirage?
Associate Professor Mahmoud Hamad– Drake University
International Visitor Program Arrivals
February 9th-12th: Six Canadian experts learning more about climate change.
A home hospitality opportunity is available February 10
February 10-15: Six visitors from Europe to learn about U.S. Foreign Policy and
Food Security. Home hospitality opportunities available February12 and 13
February 16-19: NCIV National Conference Celebrates 50 Years of Service
Passport to Prosperity; A Celebration of Iowa’s Immigrants and Refugees
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Olmsted Center, Drake University
Quarterly
Newsletter on
International
Understanding ICIU Diplomat
Follow Us
Coming Soon...
ABOUT ICIU
ICIU’s programs and ser-
vices seek to achieve its
mission of “building cultural
respect, at home and
around the world, one per-
son at a time,” through four
general program areas:
Interpretation &
Translation Services
As Iowa’s premier interpre-tation and translation service, ICIU boasts over 100 experienced language experts in 49 languages.
Iowa Global Connect
Iowa Global Connect is Iowa’s centralized multilin-gual access point for individuals and entities to Iowa’s international resources.
International Visitor
Programs
ICIU brings over 150 visi-tors to Iowa every year primarily through two government programs, Community Connec-tions and the International Visitor Leadership Program. Education programs
ICIU offers educational
programs that connect
people and ideas in the
community, educating
Iowans on international
issues and fostering
student leadership.
ICIU Announces Sehgal Family Foundation Grant
ICIU is delighted to announce the establishment
of the Sehgal Family Foundation Center for In-
ternational Visitors. Thanks to a three-year
grant totaling $30,000 from the Sehgal Family
Foundation, the Iowa Council for International
Understanding (ICIU) will establish a Center for
International Visitors that will support ICIU’s
commitment to connecting emerging leaders from
around the world with Iowans through a series of
receptions and learning opportunities. The Cen-
ter will enable Iowans to build new partnerships
on a professional level, develop new friendships
on a personal level and create new learning op-
portunities on an educational level.
Working with the U.S. Department of State’s
International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP),
ICIU is one of 92 Councils for International Visi-
tors in the United States which officially sponsor
visits from thousands of international leaders to
their communities. Each year, over 100 of these
visitors come to Des Moines. These exchanges
benefit both the visitors and the Iowans with
whom they confer. Leaders like former Indian
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, French President
Nicholas Sarkozy and former British Prime Min-
ister Gordon Brown were participants in this in-
ternational visitors program.
Last year, ICIU hosted a wide variety of leaders
from Germany, Portugal, Morocco, China, Indo-
nesia, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey,
Sweden, Italy, Denmark, the Czech Republic,
Finland, Kazakhstan, and more. Leaders selected to
travel to Des Moines enjoy professional program-
ming on topics such as food safety and public
health, the U.S. electoral system, intellectual prop-
Gale Brubaker Senior Program Manager: Finance, Grants & Marketing
Stephanie Hingtgen International Language Manager
Ashlee Stoddard International Programs Manager & Volunteer/Intern Coordinator
Working since 1938
to build cultural respect at home and around the world,
one person at a time.
Throughout the organization's history, the many volunteers who provided lead-ership and time to the organization al-ways believed the Council should be dedicated to international understanding between Iowans and the rest of the world. To this end, the Council currently administers a variety of programs which aim to connect Iowans with people, ideas and cultures from around the world. Major Program Areas:
Educational Programs
International Visitors
Interpretation & Translation
Iowa Global Connect
72 Years of International Understanding72 Years of International Understanding
ICIU is turning 75! Founded in 1938 by a group of volunteers assisting immigrants flee-ing the war in Europe, the Iowa Council for International Understand-ing today is the premier association providing information and assis-tance to immigrants and refugees in Iowa, as well as promoting citi-zen diplomacy through efforts such as the International Visitor Lead-ership Program. As we prepare to celebrate our Diamond anniver-sary, we will be celebrating new programs, services and opportunities for Iowans and visitors alike. Stay tuned!
ICIU Board Member Receives Gold Star Award
(l to r) Sherry Mueller, Den-
nis Dietz, Judith Conlin
Congratulations to ICIU
Board of Directors member
Dennis Dietz, on receiving
the NCIV Golden Star,
awarded to those who make
substantial contributions to
the goal of citizen diplomacy.
As we reflect back over 2010 it
was, as Frank Sinatra might have
sung, “a very good year.” It was a
year in which we had the opportu-
nity to celebrate three uncom-
monly gifted women as our honor-
ees to Passport to Prosperity.
Cyndi Chen, who immigrated
from Taipei Taiwan, has shared
her passion for helping others in
extraordinarily wide and varied
ways: as an educator, as the first
administrator of the Status of Io-
wan of Asian and Pacific Island
Heritage Commission, as a dis-
ability consultant, as a community
leader serving on tens of boards
and committees and as the cur-
rent Resource Coordinator for the
Iowa Department of Human
Rights.
Zeljka Krvavica, who came as a
refugee from Sarajevo, has dedi-
cated her life in America to serv-
ing some of the most vulnerable
new Iowans among us, refugees.
As Director of Refugee Services
Jill Stuecker observed, “If I had to
flee the only home I had ever
known, starting all over in a new
and foreign land, Zeljka is the
person I would want waiting for
me at the airport.”
Shazia Manus grew up in Bangla-
desh, one of the poorest countries
in the world, studied and experi-
enced poverty first hand. She
immigrated to the U.S., graduated
from Iowa State University and
began work in Ames at the
Greater Iowa Credit Union. At the
age of thirty Shazia became the
youngest CEO of the Greater
Iowa Credit Union. She has vol-
unteered hundreds of hours to
teaching about financial literacy
and her vision for true peace and
economic justice.
Making the Passport celebration
very special was the amazingly
beautiful performance by the
Heartland Youth Choir under the
direction of Barbara Sletto. The
choir treated each of the honorees
to songs from their homelands. It
was an evening enjoyed by an-
other record crowd who were
provided a delicious international
dinner and lively entertainment.
Our special thanks to Gale
Brubaker who chaired the event.
It is a year of thanks – to Sherry
Mueller, CEO of the National
Council for International Visitors,
who spent four days with ICIU’s
board of directors and staff. She
also presented the highly prestig-
ious Gold Star Award to Dennis
Dietz, in gratitude for all Dennis
has done for ICIU.
Our deepest appreciation to
Susan Josten for stepping up to
Chair the ICIU Board of Directors
and to each of the directors for
their leadership; to Professor Dar-
cie Vandegrift for so capably per-
forming as the interim acting di-
rector role for Drake’s Center for
Global Citizenship and identifying
many of the speakers for the Pio-
neer-ICIU International Dialogue
Series; to Ann and John Nesbitt
for hosting the farewell dinner for
our Turkmenistan delegation and
to each of the hosts who provided
their homes for hospitality.
Our deep and special thanks for
the generous donations of very
key leadership gifts that will make
possible the launching of ICIU’s
new website. The website will
include the development of Phase
II of Iowa Global Connect, a com-
prehensive searchable web ser-
vice, with access to multiple lan-
guages, connecting immigrants
and refugees with the services
and resources they need to live,
work and raise a family in Iowa.
We wish to extend our warm ap-
preciation to the BWA Foundation
for its gift of $6,500, to the Kum &
Go Foundation for its gift of
$5,000; to Principal Financial
Group for its gift of $5,000, and to
the W.T. and Edna M Dahl Trust
for its gift of $5,000. Thanks to
the individuals and businesses
who also contributed gifts ranging
from $100 to $2,500. Look for the
launch of the new website very
soon.
L to R: Shazia Manus, Cyndi Chen and Zeljka Krvavica
7 2
BWA Foundation
The Business Record
Judith Conlin
Conlin Foundation
W.T. and Edna M. Dahl Trust
John Deere Financial
John Deere-Des Moines Operations
Kum & Go Foundation
National Council for International Visitors
Pioneer Hi-Bred
Principal Financial
World Learning
ICIU Executive Director Honored
You CAN Make a Difference!
Are you passionate about international
issues and promoting cultural respect?
BECOME A PART OF ICIU TODAY to help us
to foster the connections that change! lives!
Our work truly depends on the generous contributions of individuals like you.
I would like to think about helping the Iowa Council for International Under-standing in the FUTURE:
I have already put the Iowa Council for
International Understanding in my will.
I would like more information about put-
ting the Iowa Council for International Understanding in my will.
TTHANKSHANKS FORFOR YOURYOUR GIFTGIFT!!
Educational Programs Interpretation Services International Visitors Iowa Global Connect
I would like to contribute $____________
or go to www.iciu.org to support the Iowa Council for International Understanding NOW.
Iowa Student Global Leadership Conference
Iowa Council for
International Understanding Board of Directors
President
Susan Judkins Josten Rebuild Iowa Office
Vice President
E. Charles (Chuck) Brice Kemin Health
Immediate Past President
Dennis Dietz Retired Attorney
Treasurer
Steven L. Saxton, JMS KYOSHIN LLC
Secretary
Jason Ross Davis Brown
Law Firm
Vice President at-large Dennis W. Kelly
John Deere Financial
Vice President at-large Phil Krenc
MidAmerican Energy Company
Directors
Daryl Beall State Senator
Ralf Fassbender Eurofins Scientific, Inc.
Don Lambert MENA Consulting LLC
Ying Sa Community CPA and
Associates
Jay Sehgal The Sehgal Foundation
David G. Skidmore Drake Center for
Global Citizenship
Laura Thompson Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Lynn Walz Retired CPA
Ambassador Level Sponsors
Chuck & Linda Brice Compressor Controls
Davis Brown Law Firm Harold & Carol Hill
Fred & Charlotte Hubbell
Prairie Meadows The Sehgal Family Foundation
Isak Sivi Ted Townsend
Townsend Vision
Attaché Level Sponsors
Ames Rotary Barr Asset Management Dennis & Sheila Dietz
Elizabeth Garst Rachel Garst
Barbara & David Hurd Susan Judkins Josten Meredith Publishing
MUSCO Lighting
Shazia Manus William Neiber
Tero International Wells Fargo
Judy Winkelpleck Community CPA Associates Inc.
Heartland Youth Choir Jay Sehgal
Diplomat Level Sponsors
Chinese Association of Iowa Green House Yoga
Mike Tramontina Swallow Yan
Delegate Level Sponsors
Professional Level Sponsors
Grace Amemiya Carol Brown Sorrel Brown
Mary Brubaker Rob Denson
John & Mary Doidge S.N. Duvik
Charles & Marilyn Farr Ralf Fassbender
Valentina Forminykh Jennifer Gardner
Mrs. Willie Glanton Albert Greffenius
Trudy Holman Eric Idehen
Greg Johansen Dau-Shen Ju
Jan & Steve Kaiser Phil Krenc
Don Lambert Pramod Mahajan
Arthur Neis Omar Padilla Alex Piedras
Jane Ringwald Vladimir Sambaiew Sol Varisco-Santini Lance Schaecher
Rajat Sehgal Rich & Svetlana Selby
Alita Siasoco Kumsan Song
Laura Thompson World Food Prize
Thanks for all of your support.
Zakery’s Bridge -Book Launch Event! Sunday, January 30, 2011 1-4 p.m. State Historical Museum 600 E. Locust Des Moines Keynote Speakers: Governor Robert Ray and Bankers Trust CEO Suku Radia
In Zakery’s Bridge we meet nine children who
share their family stories of immigrating to Iowa.
Each journey begins in a different country: From
Zakery, crossing a famous bridge in Bosnia and
Herzegovina, to Dau, listening to evening stories
in Sudan, and Cara, whose journey opens at the
foot of Shuan Foung Mountain in Taiwan. Other
journeys begin in India, Palestine, Mexico, Israel,
Laos and the Netherlands.
Join authors Kay Fenton Smith and Carol Roh Spaulding to celebrate the publication of this collection of true-life stories. As part of the occasion, a children’s naturalization ceremony will be held.
Proceeds benefit CultureALL and the Iowa Council for International Understanding. For more information, go to www.zakerysbridge.com
Scheduled for February 4-5, 2011, the Iowa Student
Global Leadership Conference (ISGLC) is an annual
conference that brings 100 Iowa
youth and international exchange
students studying in Iowa high
schools together for a leadership
institute in Des Moines. The focus
of the conference is to examine
key global issues that will have
impact on the world in the future.
Participating Iowa students work
in partnership with international students to recom-
mend actions and solutions for the future, and to
discuss ways youth can address issues of concern
in their countries. Conference activities include
large and small group activities and discussions as
well as a Friday night dance.
The Iowa Student Global Leadership Confer-
ence is sponsored by the Stanley Foundation
and Iowa Council for International Understand-
ing in cooperation with various exchange agen-
cies throughout the state.
What: ISGLC
When: February 4-5, 2011
Where: Quality Inn
929 3rd Street
Des Moines, IA
For more information, call Gale Brubaker, Senior
Program Manager, at 515.282.8269, ext. 15.
Dr. Judith Conlin, Ex-
ecutive Director of the
Iowa Council for Inter-
national Understanding,
received the Immigrant
Champion Award Satur-
day, November 13,
2010 during the Immi-
grant Entrepreneneurs
Summit. This award,
given to a non-
immigrant who is dedi-
cated to making a posi-
tive impact on the immi-
grant community, recog-
nizes Dr. Conlin’s per-
sonal and professional
commitment to and ad-
vocacy on behalf of
immigrants and their
families and communi-
ties.
ICIU Holiday Office Hours Friday, December 24: Closed Monday, December 27: Closed Friday, December 31: Closed
ICIU Emergency Interpretation Services Meeting the Need In addition to its regular fee
-for-service interpretation
and translation services,
ICIU also offers a unique
program of free emergency
interpretation services.
The emergency service is
provided to a variety of
emergency service person-
nel serving limited English
proficient clients faced with
life and death situations.
This 24 hour, 7 day a week
service is the only one of its
kind, and is able to respond
to this crucial community
need through the generos-
ity of an incredible network
of volunteer interpreters
who have made them-
selves available to be
called upon to assist in a
time of emergency.
With over 100 interpreters
and translators in over 49
languages and dialects, we
have been able to help:
Emergency rooms
Domestic violence
shelters
Police officers
Roadside assistance
staff,
Other human service
providers
Emergency interpretation
services are made avail-
able only in life threatening
situations, as determined
by the emergency line re-
sponder.
GET INVOLVED
Int’l Visitor Programs Have you always wanted to
meet people from other coun-
tries, but haven't had the
chance to travel? Here is your
opportunity!
Hospitality Hosts
Become a citizen diplo-mat by hospitality host-ing an international visi-tor. Whether it's cooking dinner in your home, taking them to an Iowa Cubs game.
Professional Hosts
Take networking to a whole new level by shar-ing your professional knowledge with an inter-national visitor. By wel-coming an international visitor into your office.
Volunteer Drivers
Get a chance to sit in on professional meetings with international visitors as a volunteer driver.
Home stay Hosts
Home stay hosting is an excellent opportunity to spend time with interna-tional visitors in your own home as you pro-vide lodging during their Des Moines program.
Interpretation/
Translation If you are fluent in another
language and looking to help
those in need, this may be an
opportunity for you!
Other Opportunities
Office/Administrative Volunteer
Special Events Volunteer
International Visitors Impressed by Des Moines
ICIU STAFF PROMOTE IOWA AT NETWORK DC
International Programs Manager Ashlee
Stoddard and Senior Programs Manager
Gale Brubaker recently had the opportunity
to travel to Washington, DC for
three days as part of the Na-
tional Council for International
Visitors’ Network DC program.
This program facilitates face-to-
face meetings with the individu-
als responsible for the Interna-
tional Visitor Leadership Pro-
gram (IVLP) at the national level
and to highlight their community resources
and capabilities.
ICIU’s presentation was met with great enthu-
siasm by staff of seven agencies responsible
for IVLP, as well as key staff at the State De-
partment.
Ashlee and Gale also had a
special opportunity to participate
in the 2010 National Program-
mers Workshop during their
stay. This workshop brings to-
gether over 200 national-level
staff from seven different or-
ganizations for a day of presentations and
interactive discussions on how to better im-
plement and improve IVLP programming.
International visitors to Iowa often come to Des
Moines with little knowledge and few expecta-
tions for their time in our state. A common an-
swer to the question “What did you know about
Iowa before your arrival?” is “Not much!” How-
ever, the impressions that they take away are
much different. Writes one visitor from Latvia,
“I’m impressed about the
involvement and activity of
the people in… well al-
most everything!” This
year, over 100 visitors
from five continents had
their opinions of Iowa, and
by extension, America,
changed in this way.
These visitors come to
Central Iowa through the
U.S. Department of
State’s International Visitor Leadership Program
(IVLP) and USAID’s Community Connections
Program. Both programs are based around
knowledge exchange between international
colleagues and person-to-person diplomacy.
Each year, these programs bring over $1 million
in revenue to the state of Iowa.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank
all of our professional hosts who take the time
out of their busy workdays to meet with our visi-
tors. We’d also like to thank the volunteers who
welcome visitors into their homes for meals and
overnight stays, who accompany visitors to
meetings as hosts and drivers, and who facili-
tate cultural outings and tours.
Our visitors’ perceptions and
ideas about Iowa are changed for
the better because of the time
and dedication you put into these
programs. We hope that our visi-
tors have changed you as well.
ICIU frequently has opportunities
such as these for Iowans to inter-
act with international visitors. If
you are interested in becoming a
“citizen diplomat” and volunteer-
ing with ICIU’s international visitors, please visit