Macedonian Consulate Opens
in Naples
February 8, 2008
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The Council for International Visitors
in Collier County (CIVIC) and The Civic Information
Center (CIC) held a luncheon in celebration of the
opening of the Macedonian Consulate in Naples on
Friday, February 8 2008 at Vergina’s restaurant.
Over 125 people attended the luncheon.
Speakers and dignitaries included
Antonio Milososki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of Macedonia, Zoran Jolevski, Ambassador
of the Republic of Macedonia to the United States,
Dr. Srgjan Kerim, President of the General Assembly
of the United Nations, Mayor Bill Barnett, Dr. Sam
Durso, President of Collier County Habitat for Humanity
and Zoran Kostov, CEO of Habitat for Humanity in
Macedonia.
The occasion marked the opening
of the Macedonian Consulate and celebrated a new
partnership formed by the Macedonian Habitat for
Humanity and Habitat for Humanity of Collier County.
Mayor Bill Barnett gave the Macedonian delegation
the key to the City of Naples and proclaimed February
8, 2008 “Macedonian Day” in Naples,
FL.
In addition, Lou Vlasho’s
appointment as Honorary Consul of the Republic of
Macedonia to the United States was officially recognized.
“It is humbling to have been elected honorary
consul by the government of Macedonia, stated Vlasho.
“I am excited to share the opening of the
consulate with my family, friends and Greater Naples
community. Vlasho is the Vice-President of Rimaco
Corp/Vergina Restaurant.
OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation
and Development) Consulate Generals Visit
October 25, 2007
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CIVIC (Council for International Visitors
in Collier) hosted the OECD (Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development) Consulate Generals based
in Miami for a one day Cultural, Intellectual, Educational
and Reciprocal Commerce Exchange Seminar at the Hilton
Naples on October 25, 2007. The goal was to inform
the Consuls of the unique “investment”
opportunities Greater Naples has to offer.
We had the pleasure of meeting with Consulate Generals
from France, Spain, Netherlands, Canada, Germany
and the United Kingdom.
The strategy is to prompt the Consuls to inform
their Nations’ Secretariats that Greater Naples
and Southwest Florida offer special areas of interest
for their VIP citizens traveling to the USA under
our US State Department’s sponsored-escort
programs.
The Honorable Bill Barnett, Mayor of the City of
Naples welcomed the guests to our great city.
Mr. Wayne Mullican, Chair of CIVIC introduced our
invited guest speakers:
Dr. J. Howard Finch, Acting Dean of Business FGCU;
Mr. Richard Botthof, Exec. Director-Regional Business
Alliance;
Dr. Edmundo Muniz, President & CEO, Tigris Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.;
Mr. Michael J. Schroeder, Pres./CIO Wasmer Schroeder
& Company Inc.;
Mr. Dolph W. von Arx, Chairman, Regional Business
Alliance & Philanthropist;
Mr. Edward A. Morton, Managing Director Wasmer Schroeder&
Company Inc. & Chair-Elect Leadership Collier
Foundation;
Mr. Jeff Fridkin, Chair, Greater Naples Chamber
of Commerce.
We extend our appreciation to these outstanding
gentlemen for sharing their time and expertise with
our guests.
After lunch, the Consul Generals
were escorted to NCH for a tour of the Di Vinci
Robot and the Cyberknife facilities. The day concluded
with a lovely reception in the “Garden of
Hope” hosted by NCH. Our thanks to Debbie
Curry, Director of Public Relations, Roselyne Guy,
Marketing Executive, International Program Division
and all the other NCH staff who were so gracious
to our guests and CIVIC members.
It was a wonderful event and a great experience
for all.
CIVIC receives 3rd Group
of International Visitors
Leadership Project for the Kyrgyz Republic-Investigative
Journalism
June 16th to June 20th 2007
Mr. Alym Toktomushev, Political
Correspondent, Newspapers and Mr.Jalil Saparov,
Correspondent, Information Agency were accompanied
by Russian interpreter Mr. Eugene Galperin . The
goal of this project was to learn about the important
role of an independent media in a democracy, increase
participants understanding of the rights and responsibilities
of a free press in a democracy and to examine specific
aspects of investigative reporting.
Upon their arrival the three gentlemen
enjoyed a sunset cruise on the Naples Princess.
Their leadership program began with an escorted
tour of the City. Our guest had the opportunity
to engage in a panel discussion with representatives
of the Naples World Affairs Council. The group spent
the afternoon on a tour of the Naples Daily News.
They also participated in a presentation
by the Public Information Officers followed by a
visit to a local TV studio to view a live broadcast
and a tour of the facility. Mr. Saparov and Mr.
Toltomushev also enjoyed a working lunch with local
reporters and journalists. Their meetings concluded
with a question and answer session with the Chairman
of the Leadership Collier Foundation. Evening entertainment
was graciously hosted by CIVIC members Sandra and
Reg Buxton and Patty and Lou Vlasho.
CIVIC Member-Guest Reception
March 27th 2007
Guest Speaker:
Ms. Leslie Lebl
Former Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs, U.S.
Mission to the European Union in Brussels
Topic: The Rise of Muslim Extremism and the European
Union
Ms. Lebl left the audience with
many things to think about and also was helpful
to anyone wanting further reading on the subject.
CIVIC receives 2nd Group
of International Guests from the Galapagos Islands
Anne McCormick, Program Officer, Delphi International
Program of World Learning
March 10 to March
14 2007
Mr. Kleber Rafael LOPEZ PALMA, Manager
Cooperativa de Pescadores Copropag, Mrs. Maryuri
Irlandia YEPEZ REVELO, Technical aspects of the
Galapagos Nat’l Park in San Cristobal and
Mr. Carlos Ernesto PAPATA ERAZO, Director, FUNDAR
Galapagos arrived in Naples on March 10th accompanied
by Alethea Hanna, Interpreter.
The purpose of their project was
to learn how to balance the need for economic development
with protecting a fragile ecosystem, become skilled
at conflict management techniques to help various
interest groups reach agreements that will benefit
the islands and study how the national parks work
effectively with neighboring communities and municipal
governments. The group participated in a two day
seminar at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research
Reserve. Evening home entertainment was hosted by
CIVIC members Luis Bernal, Ursula and Kurt Pfahl
and Linda Loomis.
Civic sponsors our first US State Dept. International
Visitor
Jill L’Heureux, Program Officer Center for International
Exchanges, Academy for Educational Development (AED)
January 28th – 31th 2007
Mr. He Yubang, Deputy Director of the Qinghai Lake
Nature Preserve in the People’s Republic of
China. Mr. He was accompanied by Ms. Mary Nimtz, interpreter.
The purpose of Mr. He’s visit to Naples was
to learn the monitoring of migratory birds especially
as it related to Avian Influrenza, Wetlands Reserve
Management and bird wintering habits in southwest
Florida.
Escorted by Florida Gulf Coast
University professors, Dr. Peter Bergerson and Dr.
Jerry Jackson, Mr. He had the opportunity to visit
and meet with the experts from the Corkscrew Swamp,
Ding Darling Sanctuary, Rookery Bay and Cypress
National Preserve. Evening entertainment for Mr.
He and Ms. Nimtz was graciously hosted by CIVIC
members Sandra and Reg Buxton and Kurt and Ursula
Pfahl Ph.D.
Membership Reception sponsored by WCI Communities
Inc.
January 9th 2007
Guest Speaker: Morris “Rusty”
Hughes Former Ambassador to Burundi, Africa
Forty Five guests and members attended a reception
at the Leadership Collier Community Room. The CIVIC
Program was highlighted by comments from retired Ambassador
Hughes who served as ambassador in Burundi and worked
in numerous European, Latin American and African Countries.
Ambassador Hughes focused on the long-standing ethnic
conflicts and genocide in Rwanda and Burundi, beginning
in the 1970’ through the first years of this
decade.
Business Round Table Discussion with
Jean-David Levitte, French Ambassador
November 7th 2006
Approximately 30 prominent Naples business men
and women were invited to exchange ideas and discuss
economic and world affairs. Ambassador Levitte
spoke to the lasting ties between our countries
and the significant cooperation that our intelligence
communities share.
CIVIC Organizational Reception
October 25th 2006
The attendance was about 40 people
and the speakers of the evening were:
Mimi Gregory, President of the Naples World Affairs
Council.
James Van Fleet, Ph. D., gave a little background
on CIVIC.
Lou Vlasho, CIVIC Vice Chair:
Purposes of CIVIC in our Community and encouragement
to join.
Guest Speaker:
Ambassador Brian Carlton: Importance of Understanding
International, Public and Citizen Affairs.
Michael V. Reagen, Ph.D., President and CEO The Greater
Naples Chamber of Commerce.
Eva Alexandra Countess Kendeffy
October 13th 2006
CIVIC received The Countess while
she was in Naples on German Consular business matters.
The Countess toured the Information Center of the
Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce and met with a
group of CIVIC board members and volunteers. This
was the preliminary meeting to organize a two day
seminar with the Miami Based European Consul General
to take place in Naples October, 2007. |