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Dear Friends and Colleagues:  
I am privileged to lead the Center as its new President and want to take this opportunity to encourage everyone to visit our website. This first important initiative of the Center directly relates to our mission. Anyone of any age can learn about a wide range of opportunities to get involved in international relations.  Enjoy it, get involved and let us know how the site is or is not helpful to you. 

In 2008, the Center is engaged in many other new programs and initiatives and we will keep you informed. At the recent  National Awards ceremony, we honored six outstanding Americans with national recognition for their significant contributions as citizen diplomats throughout the world.  As I listened to their amazing stories, I recalled a wonderful quote from James Leach, former U.S. Congressman, Center Advisor, and current Director of the Center for American politics at Harvard University:
 
"As society becomes more complicated and the world more intertwined, the United States has a profound national interest in facilitating citizens outside of government to interact and communicate on a people to people basis with individuals of all walks of life around the globe."

David Roe
President
Board of Directors

During its meeting in Washington DC early this month, Board of Directors of the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy approved the creation of an International Advisory Council.

The President of Central African States Development Bank, Anicet George Dologuele, has become the first member of the Council. A former Finance Minister and Prime Minister of the Central African Republic, President Dologuele has been presiding over the Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC) since September 2001. He holds numerous honors and distinctions both nationally and internationally.

The U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy is a major, national initiative, which promotes private citizen engagement in the global community. The Center seeks to provide opportunities and linkages with national and international organizations that focus on citizen diplomacy. To advance these goals of the Center, a special "International Advisory Council" has been approved by the Center's board of directors.

The International Advisory Council will function as a "council of notables" and will:

-provide advice and perspective to the Board of Directors and Executive staff on policy initiatives undertaken by the Center.

-enable broader outreach and partnerships with the greater international community, and facilitate the Center's development of multilateral opportunities for expanded citizen diplomacy.

The Council will consist of eight to twelve individuals, with a focus on international participants, including those living in the U.S. or oeverseas.

• Dr. David Roe -- President
  
• Ambassador Mark Johnson (ret.) -- Vice President
• Laurie Heintz  -- Secretary 
  

You have been asked to host a delegation of German dignitaries whose friendship may be valuable to your community. As a citizen diplomat, you want to make a great impression. At the airport, you watch the delegation walk toward you. You reach out to shake their hands without taking your left hand out of your pocket. Unfortunately, shaking hands while leaving your other hand in your pocket is considered extremely rude in Germany. Continue reading...