June 2007

The MNP Fellows and spouses gather for one last group photo after their seminar with EF Chairman Colin Powell.

2007 MNP Concludes With Closing Seminar, Annual Meeting

Another spectacular group of Eisenhower Fellows has completed its fellowship travels, returning to Philadelphia for a final week that included the Closing Seminar and EF’s Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees. The group not only featured the most female Fellows in program history (11 of 24 Fellows), it also included the most spouses (19).

During the final weeks of the program, Fellows stayed busy with individual meetings and group events, such as the northeast hub event in Boston, which featured a meeting with the editor of the Boston Globe, a media luncheon panel at the University of Massachusetts, and a reception at the Massachusetts State House hosted by USA Fellow and State Treasurer Tim Cahill, ’07, who had returned from his fellowship in India just days before. Hub events were prevalent throughout this program, with Fellows visiting EF’s San Francisco and St. Louis hubs for group activities.

Upon returning to Philadelphia, Fellows participated in their Closing Seminar at Villanova Conference Center, where they recapped their fellowship experiences and shared their team presentations. The week concluded with a seminar with EF Chairman Colin Powell, who spoke of his experiences with leadership and then opened the floor for questions from the Fellows. It was a lively discussion, with topics ranging from foreign policy to passion, and even violin playing. Later, at the annual dinner, Fatin Bundagi (Saudi Arabia), Bill Warren (USA), and Caroline Casey (Ireland) spoke about their fellowship experiences. 

On departure day, Pakistani Fellow Rabia Garib concluded her blog by noting, “There was obviously no way [EF] could have known what the amazingly fluid and potent chemistry of this group was. They call it the Eisenhower Fellowship, but being part of this specific group was a privilege. We met back in March as Fellows. We left each other early this morning as friends.”

To see more images of the 2007 MNP Fellows’ experiences, click here (Quicktime video – download Quicktime player for Windows or for Mac.)

Colin Powell Presents Lee Hamilton With Eisenhower Medal

EF Chairman General Colin Powell presented the Dwight D. Eisenhower Medal for Leadership and Service to Lee H. Hamilton at the conclusion of EF’s Annual Meeting Day.

Hamilton delivered an impassioned acceptance speech that focused on international cooperation and dialogue. “I’m no starry-eyed about what diplomacy can achieve. I do not believe that talking is a panacea,” he said. “In a very tough world, diplomacy must be integrated with the other tools of American power, including military force.”

Hamilton serves as president and director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and director of The Center on Congress at Indiana University. Previously, Hamilton represented Indiana’s 9^th congressional district for 34 years. During his congressional tenure, he served as chairman and ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. As a member of the House Standards of Official Conduct Committee, he also was a primary draftsman of several House ethics reforms.

To read the full text of Hamilton’s speech, click here.

Read more about the Eisenhower Medal and past recipients here.

Czech Republic Fellows Gather

A general assembly of Eisenhower Fellows from the Czech Republic took place on April 13. The group elected a new executive committee to office for the next two years and set a program of activities for the upcoming year. The group also discussed necessary changes to the country’s MNP nomination system.

According to Petr Duchon, ’01, the newly elected president of the Fellows’ association, “[The meeting] also included a very interesting and fruitful debate with Richard W. Graber, U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic, about U.S.-Czech relations – more specifically, the U.S. anti-missile defense system and its radar base that should be constructed on the Czech soil.”

Latin America Program Planning Meeting Held in Argentina

The Argentinean Fellows recently hosted a planning meeting in Buenos Aires for the 2008 Single Region Program, which will focus on Latin America. In addition, Fellows discussed the Latin America regional conference that will be held in Ouro Preto, Brazil, June 5–8, 2008. ICANA (Instituto Cultural Argentino Norteamericano) hosted a welcome reception for meeting attendees and their spouses (shown in photo here).

EFASL Organizes Global Warming Seminar

On July 3, the EFASL (Eisenhower Fellowship Association of Sri Lanka), along with the Sri Lanka Singapore Business Council, Munasinghe Institute of Development, and MARGA Institute, will hold a seminar on global warming titled “Challenges and Opportunities for Sri Lanka.”

For more information, contact Dayananda Gunawardena, ’86, Sri Lanka, at hdgune@sltnet.lk.

Top row from left to right:
Antonio Martín Carrillo, Carlos Labarta, Carmén Tomás (Mr. Laín´s spouse), Javier Cremades, Pedro Laín

Front row, from left to right:
Arancha Calvo-Sotelo (Mr. Cremades’ spouse), Inés Alberdi, Ana Gorroño, Maitreyi Roy, Daniel Douglas, Alfonso Vegara, Martín Fernández Prado

USA Fellows Visit Spain for First Time

The EF Fellows of Spain hosted a dinner for USA Fellows Maitreyi Roy and Dan Douglas, who are currently traveling on fellowship. It was the first time Spain has hosted USA Fellows. Spanish Fellows present at the dinner included Inés Alberdi, ’98; Javier Cremades, ’98; Pedro Lain, ’98; Antonio Martín Carrillo, ’98; Carlos Labarta, ’06; and Martin Fernandez Prado, ‘07. The dinner was organized by Fundacion Metropoli, headed by Alfonso Vegara, ’87, who also attended.

Douglas, director of the Raleigh Urban Design Center, and acting assistant planning director for the City of Raleigh, NC, will also visit Germany on his fellowship. Roy, director of Philadelphia Green, will also visit Germany and the EU.

You can read about Roy’s travels on her blog, EuroGreen Observations.

Nomination, United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy

John E. Osborn, ’98, USA, executive vice president and general counsel of Cephalon, Inc., has been nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as a member of the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy. The Commission is a seven member bipartisan panel established by the Congress in 1948 to provide advice and oversight of all U.S. Government activities intended to understand, inform, and influence foreign publics. The nomination is subject to confirmation by the United States Senate.

Lieutenant Colonel Carlito Galvez (third from left) is shown with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (center) and the other recipients of the Ten Outstanding Philippine Soldiers 2006 award.

Recipient, Outstanding Philippine Soldier of 2006

Lieutenant Colonel Carlito Galvez, Jr., ’06, Philippines, was recently named one of the Ten Outstanding Philippine Soldiers of 2006, an honor conferred by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Of the award, he writes, “I owe this to EF and its staffs, and to the great Fellows and kindhearted trustees (especially Derek Chilvers and Washington Sycip) who continuously inspire my life to do my best for my country and the common good. It is indeed my greatest happiness to share with you this wonderful experience that was opened through the gateway of Eisenhower Fellowships. Thank you very much.”

Partner, Dubilier & Co.

Anne Gordon, ‘01, USA, has accepted a position as partner in a private-investment firm, Dubilier & Co., of Stamford, CT. She will work from her home in Penn Valley, PA, and travel. Gordon was previously managing editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Managing Director, Leadership Forum, Inc.

In June, Jane Cox, ’03, USA, will become a managing director at Leadership Forum Inc., an international consulting practice headquartered in Durham, NC. In her new position, she will be involved in helping leaders in the nonprofit and government sectors to improve their skills in strategic thinking, team building, talent development, cultural inclusivity and strategic execution. Cox was previously president and CEO of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

Chairman, Palisades Capital Advisors

Brad Belt, ‘97, USA, has been named chairman of Palisades Capital Advisors, a private investment and advisory firm affiliated with Reservoir Capital Group. He was previously executive director and CEO of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Group Finance Director, Viridian Group

Peter Ewing, ’93, USA, has been appointed group finance director of Viridian Group.  Ewing joined Viridian in 1998 as finance director of NIE plc and was appointed general manager, Group Finance of Viridian in 2003. Before joining Viridian he was finance director of Moy Park. He has a strong background in corporate finance and has played a key part in the Group’s success over the past few years.

Representative, Prague Townhall

Jana Ryslinkova, ’92, Czech Republic, has been elected to Prague’s Townhall. She is the representative of her political party in the Townhall Assembly. She is also CEO and dean of the US Business School Praha.