June-July 2004

June-July 2004

WorldFeast 2004 at the Wachovia Atrium: Food, music and art festival Saturday, June 12 (11:00am - 7:00pm)

Please join all of your International House friends for a wonderful celebration of the array of cultures that make up our community. Saturday, June 12th, at the Wachovia Atrium & Plaza, we will gather for the second annual WorldFeast on Saturday, June 12th, at the Wachovia Atrium & Plaza.

This festive event allows the Charlotte community to come together and enjoy the diversity of the city's population through art, entertainment, and, of course, food! WorldFeast is designed so that attendees, both children and adults, experience different cultures through active participation in the event. Our "Streetsmosphere' allows community members to interact with the vendors, artists and volunteers; people who come to the event become participants.

WorldFeast, which begins at 11:00 am and ends at 7:00 pm, is a FREE event available to the community at large. Double your pleasure and become a WorldFeast volunteer. Volunteer opportunities are available. For more information, contact Sheila Bennett, Development Manager, at (704) 333-8099 or sbennett@ihclt.org.

ENTERTAINMENT

VENDORS

CHILDREN'S AREA

Inside Upadate:

IH Calendar

A Home Host Perseptective

Armando Casarez, IH Volunteer

Thanks to Exiting Board Members

Jordan

"Save the Date"

The UNC Charlotte International Festival (IFEST) will be held this year on Saturday, October 2, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. in the Barnhardt student Activity Center on campus.

For more information call Sheila Bennett at 704-333-8099 ext. 12

International House Staff
José Hernández-París
Executive Director
Josane Calvert
Finance Manager
Ludmila Van Dreel
Citizen Diplomacy Programs Director
Brandon Wallace
Citizen Diplomacy Programs Manager
Lara Printz
Citizen Diplomacy Programs Manager
Trish Golembe
Citizen Diplomacy Programs Assistant
Raquel Lynch
Community Services Director
Rebecca Wey
Client Services Coordinator
Sheila Bennett
Development Manager
David Stewart
Immigration Services Director

Staff highlight : Sheila Bennett, Development Manager

Sheila Bennett was born and raised in Mandeville, Louisiana (a small town near New Orleans.) After graduating from Spencer Business College in New Orleans, Sheila worked for several companies, including Shell Oil Company where she met her husband, Bob. A job with Fiber Industries (a subsidiary of Celanese) precipitated a move to Shelby, North Carolina and one year later they moved to Charlotte.

Sheila first became involved with International House as an ETP volunteer tutor. Later, she volunteered in the office for two years while completing a degree in English from Queens University. She joined the IH staff in January 2001. She currently holds the position of Development Manager.

Sheila has two daughters, Shannon and Amanda, and a grumpy cat named Eli.

A word from the Executive Director to exiting board members

Susan Barry, Peter Akerblom and Claudio Carpano have fulfilled their IH Board commitment and I would like to personally say thank you for their continuous support and invaluable contribution to International House throughout the years.

Several International House Board members are continuing their commitment to us in a different capacity. Larry Coffey and Kal Kardous have become members of International House Advisory Committee.

We continue to encourage Charlotte community leaders to become actively involved on the Board of International House.

José Hernández-París

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International House Calendar

English Tutor Program (ETP): This program provides training for volunteers to teach English as a second language. ETP Training will be held from 6 to 9 PM on Monday June 14, Wednesday June 16 , Monday June 21 and Wednesday June 23 here at International House. Contact Raquel at 704.333.8099 ext. 13 for information.	Citizenship Classes: Classes are an excellent preparatory tool for the interview and exam process required of naturalization applicants. Summer Session: Sundays from 1 PM to 4 PM on June 6, 13, 20, 27 and July 11 at International House. Contact Rebecca at 704.333.8099 Ext. 10 for information.
Doorways Look for an invitation in the mail to attend informal gatherings at lunch for social and cultural exchanges during the summer while this program is on hiatus.	IH Book Club: No meetings are held during the summer. Look for the list of books which will be read starting in September.
International Visitors Program will host a group from Africa, June 123-17. The program theme will be Small Business and entrepreneurship. Participants will include business leaders, governments officials and business journalist. Top	Community Connections: Community Connections will welcome a group of ten participants from Kazakhstan to Charlotte, July 12 through August 1st. The Program will focus on "Religion in a diverse country."

A Home Host Perspective: By Mary Hooper

Jana Pospislova
IH visitor, Czech R.

While I have enjoyed meeting the 25+ State Department visitors I've hosted over the years, Jana Pospislova of the Czech Republic made a lasting impression. She came to my home as a last minute substitution 5 years ago. After that supper with her and men from the Philippines and Paraguay, Jana would e mail sporadically. Next I heard she was getting an MBA at Harvard. After she spent a week with me in Charlotte, I swore I'd visit Prague.

Fast forward 2 1/2 years to last December. Lufthansa's introductory rates came on the heels of her Christmas card and a nudge from Charlotte friends who had seen her in Prague, so I headed out on April 30 for an unforgettable week in a lovely city. During my stay, I spent the days walking the city and savoring its sights. When Jana was free from her work trying to transition her homeland toward environmental policies that were in line with the European Union, we stuffed as much adventure into my trip as possible. Not only did we attend a Harvard Club event featuring the US ambassador, climb an historic mountain with the Czech prime minister and 2,000 other Social Democrats and hear the Czech Symphony but we also spent a lot of time with a number of EU pre-accession advisors from the UK . I even went to a Rotary meeting only to sit next to a Czech national who had lived in Charlotte.

Best of all, I visited a wonderful friend and got to see a country at an historic point of time. None of that would have been posssible had I not opened my home to International House visitors.

For more information on home host or business host opportunities, please call Lara or Ludmila at 704-342-2248.

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Volunteer Corner: Armando Casarez

Q 1: Tell us about your involvement with International House. Have you noticed International House change with the years?

A 1: My involvement began in 1995, mostly attending the Spanish conversation hour; slowly I became involved with the inner workings. During 1996-1997 my participation included repairs, painting. By 1998 -1999 I became the Spanish coordinator after Jan Notzon gave-up the responsibility. I've also participated in the Gala, WorldFeast, Tennis Tournament, Yard Sales, Cleaning Day, Crossroads concert series and any other special event.

As my involvement increased so did my awareness of the organization's focus, International House through the years has become more diverse in programs that have more of a cultural base or awareness.

Q 2: How has Charlotte's growth influenced your approach to volunteering?

A 2: Living in Charlotte since 1992, it has made me aware and more sensitive to the Latino/Hispanics plight more than it did in California. Because being single here has allowed me to participate in the community, via IH or Saint Gabriel's Catholic Church. Being Latino, is a unique situation, having the ability to be bilingual allows me to help newcomers that are not bilingual. I have seen the change through IH conversation hours: We used to be one solid advanced Spanish conversation hour, now we have beginners level conversation hour, it has increased participation, where newcomers and Charlotteans want to learn and practice Spanish.

Q 3: What has International House meant to you?

A 3: It is my home away from home. IH has been a place of soul-searching; I can't give you the number of friends who have affected my life. It has been a refuge during my life's transition.

Q 4: What is the most amazing thing you have seen or experienced in IH.

A 4: It happens every day. It is simple. When someone calls for information or help, When you are done helping them - you hear their satisfaction and their humble thanks- you know then, you are helping them orientate themselves in this new environment.

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International House Wish List

2 Large Mirrors

Arm Chairs

1 8ft ladder

Lamp Shades

Security Camera

Lamp

Air conditioner unit

Upholstery fabric

Paint

Truck Services (to transport future donations and unwanted items)

Thanks for all donations and offers we had to pass!

Country of the Month: JORDAN

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a small country located in the Middle East along the river from which it draws its name, the Jordan River. Despite its relatively limited number of natural resources, it has been a very influential and important country in the region and throughout the world due to its location and strong leadership. The desert kingdom emerged out of the post-World War I division of the Middle East by Britain and France. The death in February 1999 of King Hussein, who ruled Jordan for 46 years, left the country still struggling for economic and social survival, as well as regional peace. His son, Abdullah, who succeeded him to the throne, faced the task of maintaining the country's stability while accommodating growing calls for political reform.

For more information about Jordan, visit International House and view our displayed information about Jordan.

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International House wishes to thank the Charlotte Observer, Lufthansa and Dodge for their outstanding support of our programs and services.