Austin rolls out the culture and the commerce for ambassadors

http://www.statesman.com/news/business/austin-rolls-out-the-culture-and-the-commerce-for-/nXrLP/

Their program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational Affairs, began in the nation’s capital and will include visits to Austin, Texas and Portland, Ore., before concluding in New York City on May 24.

During their visits, the four esteemed delegates will meet with professional counterparts, gain a firsthand understanding of U.S. life and culture, and be exposed to an American perspective on advocacy, access, and empowerment for the disabled.

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release: MARCH 1, 2013          Media Contact: mmwgawron@gmail.com

  Telephone: 512-423-1815

79.89.09   

a lecture from a cycle of work by Slavs and Tatars,
Friendship of Nations: Polish Shi’ite Showbiz

Presentation by Slavs and Tatars member, Payam Sharifi ________________________________________________________________

On Thursday, April 4 at 7:00 pm, Slavs ad Tatars co-founder, Payam Sharifi, will be presenting a free lecture at the University of Texas, Austin, Mezes Hall, 1.306. The title of his lecture is 79.89.09, from a cycle of work entitled: Friendship of Nations: Polish Shi’ite Showbiz.  This presentation is sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies, the Department of Middle Eastern Studies, and the Austin Polish Society. For more information visit: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/creees/.

Activism through Social Media: A Project for Pakistan

Secretly everyone has had the dream at least once where the government calls with a special mission, and you are the one they need. It’s a dream that rarely comes true, and in our case almost got overlooked, when an email came to our Vice President, Adam Price with the subject: URGENT: US Department of State Meeting Request: Activism through Social Media, Pakistan.

Like many would, Price said at first he thought it was a spam email. However, after a few phone calls with Pamela-Jean Mohamed, Associate Executive Director for International Programs with GlobalAustin, he confirmed that this was a legitimate request from the State Department in Washington for representatives from Speak Social to meet with delegates from both the U.S. and Pakistan to discuss the topic, Activism through Social Media. Speak Social’s portion of the meeting will take place this afternoon in Austin; however, the delegation will continue meeting on different topics both today and tomorrow, February 9.

According to Mohamed, the delegation from Pakistan is coming to the US through the US Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, which fosters citizen-to-citizen diplomacy for emerging leaders.

Each year GlobalAustin coordinates meetings and opportunities for cross-cultural sharing for over 400 international dignitaries from over 90 countries. The topics range from agriculture to zoning and bring in emerging leaders from government, non-profits, academia, journalism and the private sector. The program has been in existence since after WWII and famous alumni of this State Department program include Gordon Brown, Queen ‘Mamohato Seeiso, Tony Blair, Anwar Sadat, Margaret Thatcher, Nicolas Sarkozy, Hamid Karzai, Indira Gandhi, Felipe Calderón and Mikheil Saakashvili just to name a few.

Mohamed said that Washington personally asked her to request an opportunity for the delegation to meet with Speak Social to learn more about the company and how we use Social Media to promote awareness.

“We want to discuss best practices for engaging an audience to advance your message, the value of collecting analysis of web traffic and usage, and deciding on the best new media platforms to fit our objectives,” Mohamed said.

In addition, the delegation would like to hear more about the Social Good Summit, Work-From-Home Program that we have vigorously worked with other volunteers to coordinate.

“I am honored to represent the US and work with the business leaders from Pakistan to discuss Social Media, and the positive impact it can have on business practices and the world,” Price said. “Working together, in these worldwide exchanges are a large part of why we started Speak Social.”

In addition to Adam, Speak Social President Brad Bogus will also be speaking with the delegation to offer his expertise and opinions.
“By helping other cultures learn from each other, the State Department is doing a great thing,” Bogus said. “We’re excited to show the Pakistani Delegation what we’ve done with our clients and causes, but we’re more looking forward to learning what has worked for them.”

Program Objectives
The Department of State has outlined the following specific objectives for the project:

- To highlight innovations and ways in which social media have been used successfully in the U.S. by the public and private sector, as well as NGOs and grassroots activists.
- To increase understanding of policies and strategies for developing effective communication platforms, and how to initiate and design far-reaching social media campaigns that further human rights and democratic ideals.
- To improve technical skills needed to develop and use social media, such as content development, video production, and interfacing with existing social media platforms.
- To learn about techniques and strategies to reach rural and/or low penetration areas, such as texting/SMS.
- To increase outreach and global linkages with international organizations and institutions.

Austin Specific Themes

Human Rights Activism through Social Media
Politics and Campaigns
Bloggers:  Creating Online Virtual Communities
Volunteer Activity

- See more at: http://blog.speaksocial.net/activism-social-media-project-pakistan#sthash.fCQ2f9nv.dpuf

Joe W. Neal, 96 passed away at his home in Austin on January 14, 2013.

Born in Watertown, Tennessee, October 25, 1916, to Basil Young Neal and Katie Jo Greene, Joe attended school in Tennessee before the family moved to Texas. Graduating from Brackenridge High School in San Antonio at age 15, he attended San Antonio Junior College.  There, his debate coach arranged for him to debate a Houston team, coached by Lyndon B. Johnson. He maintained contact with LBJ through his presidency.  Joe transferred to The University of Texas at Austin, continuing his debate interests.  There he earned his BA, MA and PhD in Government.

He served in the U.S. Army and US Army Reserve from 1941 until 1972, retiring with the rank of Colonel.  He became a disabled veteran when a helicopter blade almost severed his right arm.

During the early 1940s, Joe was employed in Washington D.C. There he fondly remembered having tea with Eleanor Roosevelt.

On October 10, 1943, Joe married Clarice G. Hollman in Shiner, Texas, whom he had met when she attended the University of Texas as an international student from Brazil.  They had four children.

Following the war, Joe returned to The University of Texas, joining the government department in 1946 and subsequently became a professor in the College of Communication.  He started the International Office at the University, providing services to international students attending UT. He served as Director of International Programs until his retirement from the University in 1986, though continued teaching until 1995.  In 1985 he chartered the Texas International Education Consortium (TIEC), an organization of all the public universities in Texas for the purpose of promoting higher education internationally.  He served as President and CEO until his retirement in 1995.

Joe was instrumental in the formation of national organizations related to international education, including the National Association of Foreign Student Affairs (NAFSA), the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA), and the Texas Partners of the Americas, among others.

Joe travelled around the world, being received by Kings, Queens and Heads of State.  He was responsible for receiving thousands of international students to the University of Texas and other Texas universities.  Many of these students returned home to illustrious careers in government and business.

Joe continued to be active with his international contacts.  He enjoyed receiving visits from former students and attending gatherings of colleagues. Over the past few years he worked diligently with former associate Barbara Altman to record and organize his memoirs.

He was proud of his family.  He especially enjoyed visits and sharing stories of his childhood and career with his grandchildren. He reveled in entertaining family and visitors at gatherings at their farm in Tennessee and at Horse Thief Hollow Ranch in Austin where he frequented at every chance.

Joe is survived by his sister, Mary Nichol; children, John H. and wife, Linda of California, Tom L. and wife, Candace of California, Mary Jo Beckman and husband Robert of Virginia, and Frank W. (Pancho) and wife, Jane of Texas, 16 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, sister, Martha, of Tennessee, and brother, Tom, of Nevada.

Joe left a legacy of family, friends and associates.  He mentored many entering careers in international education or seeking educational opportunities, offering assistance to open doors on their behalf.  He will be sorely missed.

The family is especially appreciative of the dedication and efforts of his staff of assistants and caregivers, Pam, Erika, Maria, Josie, Celia, Stella, Michelle and Brenda.  Their care and compassion allowed him to remain in his home and continue his active schedule.

Visitation will be held Friday, January 18, 6 pm – 8 pm at Weed Corley Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin. Private graveside services will be held Saturday, January 19.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations may be made to Global Austin (formerly the International Hospitality Council at Austin) 1103 W. 24th Street, Austin, TX  78705, or the Joe W. Neal Centennial Fellowship in International Communication, College of Communication, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station A0900, Austin, TX 78712-1094.

Our guest will be Mr. Andrew Peter Fraser, Board Member of the Australian Sports Commission and The Moorebank Intermodal Company.  Mr. Fraser has extensive state government experience in both economic development and sports administration.  Since 2004 he has represented the Labour Party in Queensland, where he has held several positions, including Treasurer, Sport Minister, and most recently Deputy Premier of Queensland.  In November 2012 Mr. Fraser was appointed to the board of the Australian Sports Commission, where his governmental experience helps the Commission to promote the Australian government’s sports policy agenda.  Mr. Fraser is interested in economics, trade, and federalism as a tool for innovation and as the structure for national cohesion and in the U.S.-Australian bi-lateral relationships regarding international commerce, trade, and foreign policy issues.   Mr. Fraser is a participant in the U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program.

WHEN:          Thursday, January 31, 2013

6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

WHERE:        Marker 10 (cocktail lounge)

Hyatt Regency Hotel

208 Barton Springs Road

Limited on-site parking (bring your Hyatt ticket inside for validation); parking available in the Austin American Statesman with a short walk along the hike & bike trail.

Light appetizers & Cash Bar (Happy Hour prices on beer and wine until 7:00pm)

 GlobalAustin invites you to a Citizen Diplomacy Reception and Networking Event!

Like the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, the University of Texas at Austin is the flagship of a larger State-wide university system. The overall University of Texas System contains 9 universities, 6 stand-alone medical and research institutions, and more than 190,000 students.

Read the ambassador’s full blog post

The certificate is awarded by Cambridge ESOL, part of the University of Cambridge and is designed for candidates with little or no previous teaching experience. The UT CELTA is an intensive 4-week, 120-hour program that qualifies successful candidates to teach English across the globe and opens a whole world of exciting English language teaching opportunities. Over 10,000 candidates currently obtain the certificate each year at 150 centers in 35 countries worldwide. The CELTA is an initial qualification for people who are interested in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in the US or abroad.

ESL Services at UT has been approved by Cambridge University to be an authorized CELTA center, and we will be offering our first course October 15^th – November 9^th, 2012.

For an overview of the CELTA and more detailed information about the course, please seewww.cambridgeesol.org.  To see course dates, register for the CELTA or find out more about theUT’s CELTA courses, go to http://world.utexas.edu/esl/celta, email celta@austin.utexas.edu.

Snapshot of Public Diplomacy in Action

Interested in following U.S. Public Diplomacy Efforts? Tara Sonenshine, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, publishes an informative web-based

newsletter highlighting numerous State Department public diplomacy programs.

The Department of State website recently featured a video which illustrates how participation in an IVLP brought the spirit of volunteerism from America to Zambia.  Click the post to watch it here.